Department for Transport

Highways Agency

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Welsh Assembly and (b) Scottish Government on the proposed transfer of the Highways Agency to a Government owned company.

Mr John Hayes: There are regular official and ministerial discussions with the devolved governments on general Transport issues. We have written to the Welsh Assembly & Scottish Government when the Infrastructure Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on the 5th June 2014.

Highways Agency

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the wage restrictions and policies which apply to the Civil Service will apply to the Highways Agency following its transfer to a Government owned company.

Mr John Hayes: The new Strategic Highways company will still need to conform to the requirements set out in Managing Public Money. The staff will no longer be civil servants, although terms and conditions will be protected for existing staff. We are considering the wider governance and controls framework and how central controls, including those on pay, should be applied to the new company.

Aviation: Sierra Leone

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with charities and non-governmental organisations on the effects of removing the permit for direct flights from the UK to Sierra Leone.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Secretary of State for Transport has had no direct approaches either by any charities or non-government organisations on this matter. It is the role of the Department for International Development to work with such bodies. They are working with non-governmental organisations and wider partners to ensure responders to the ebola crisis are able to travel to and from Sierra Leone.

Aviation: Sierra Leone

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what reports he has received on the consequences of the decision to remove the permit for direct flights from the UK to Sierra Leone for humanitarian aid deliveries to Sierra Leone and West Africa.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport continues to work with the Department for International Development regarding the current situation in West Africa. The airline that had proposed operating direct services, Gambia Bird Airlines, were invited to make representations to the Department for Transport and these are currently under consideration. I recently met the Sierra Leone Minister of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Leonard Balogun Koruma, and discussed this and other issues.

High Speed Two

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under what selection process his Department appointed Christine Emmett, Neil Massom and Baroness Jo Valentine as non-executive Directors of High Speed 2; and what (a) remuneration and benefits package they receive and (b) contracted hours they are employed for.

Mr Robert Goodwill: All three appointments were made following an open competition carried out in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. Non-Executive Directors at HS2 Ltd receive a remuneration of £950 per day based on an average time commitment of 2 days per month. They may also claim for travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with Department for Transport rules and may be reimbursed for any reasonable additional costs necessarily incurred in providing for the care of children or elderly or infirm people whilst attending HS2 Ltd meetings or events.

Railways: Woking

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the capacity utilisation on trains out of Woking between 6.30am and 9.00am on a weekday morning in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of overcrowding on rail services from Woking to London Waterloo.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport (DfT) holds information on the number of passengers on board services from Woking to London when they reach London, however information for individual routes is considered commercially confidential and so cannot be released. An exception to this are those services which appear in the ‘Top 10 overcrowded trains’ lists that are published, which regularly include services between Woking and London Waterloo, and I recently travelled on this route to experience the crowding on it. The Department does not hold information on crowding on services leaving Woking which do not go to London. DfT publishes statistics showing overall passenger numbers and crowding levels on the route into London Waterloo in the publication Rail passenger numbers and crowding on weekdays in major cities in England and Wales: 2013, which is available in the Libraries of the House and online at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2013.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Fines

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fines on foreign lorry drivers are unpaid.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Since 2009 to the present date, the number of unpaid notices issued to foreign commercial vehicle drivers by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is 417.

Midland Main Railway Line

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, from where his Department plans to secure trains to run on the Midland mainline when electrification of that line is completed.

Claire Perry: No decisions have been taken regarding the procurement of electric rolling stock for the Midland Main Line. This will be a matter for the train operator. An announcement on this will be made in due course.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, where, when and how often the job of HS2 Resident's Commissioner will be advertised.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The job is currently advertised on the HS2 website by clicking on the link to ‘Jobs’. The advert has been placed in the following media: From Thursday 23 October 2014: The Guardian newspaper and The Lawyer websites Friday 24 October 2014: Property Week publication – it will also appear on the Property Week website from 24 October Sunday 26 October 2014: Sunday Times – in print and online and on the Sunday Times iPAD version.

Lighting

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to implement a replacement programme to introduce LED lights throughout his Department's buildings and sites; if he will estimate the proportion of lighting in his Department which is LED; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport will consider installation of LED lights during major refurbishment projects where cost effective to do so. Information on the proportion of lighting which is currently LED is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Home Office

Counter-terrorism

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2014 to Question 207956, how much of the funds given to local authorities under the Prevent programme was spent in each of the last five years; and what funds under that programme were spent by (a) police forces, (b) other frontline agencies and (c) central government in each of those years.

James Brokenshire: Since 2011, Prevent spend figures for frontline agencies, local delivery, and central agencies have been as follows:  Year2011/12  2012/13 2013/14Frontline Agencies£7.5 million £7.9 million £6.8 millionLocal Delivery£1.2 million £3.3 million £4.4 millionCentral Government£3.2 million  £1.5 million  £4.1 million Funding for Prevent policing is part of a wider grant provided by the Home Office to the police for counter-terrorism activity. It is therefore not possible to give a detailed breakdown of spend on police activity for Prevent. However funding for Prevent policing represents approximately half of the total Prevent funding.Spend on the 2011 Prevent strategy has increased as the programme, particularly local delivery, has become more firmly embedded at local level, and good practice better established.

Human Trafficking

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many confiscation orders were imposed by the CPS on individuals convicted of offences related to human trafficking in each of the last five years; what the size of these orders was; and how much has been recovered under such orders.

Karen Bradley: The Government is committed to fighting human trafficking. Over £5.5 million has been recovered from those convicted of human trafficking offences in the last five years. Full available details are shown in the following table. A human trafficker may, as an alternative, be charged and prosecuted for a different offence, such as prostitution or money laundering, which could incur a confiscation order. But this would not be recorded as a trafficking offence.

Schengen Agreement: ICT

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of whether Chapter VIII of Council Decision 2007/533/JHA will place police and border control checks conducted by UK authorities within the scope of EU law for the purposes of EU fundamental rights, if the UK connects to the Schengen Information System II.

Karen Bradley: A full impact assessment has been conducted on Council Decision 2007/533/JHA. Details of this assessment can be found in Command Paper 8897 published on 3 July 2014: (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326698/41670_Cm_8897_Accessible.pdf), Chapter VIII of Council Decision 2007/533/JHA only requires the UK to notify the issuing Member State that the individual has come to our attention. With regards to border control checks the UK does not participate in the border control elements of Schengen (including Regulation 1987/2006) and are not bound by those provisions. Concerning police checks, Article 276 TFEU is clear that the Court of Justice shall have no jurisdiction to review the validity or proportionality of operations carried out by the police or the exercise of the responsibilities incumbent upon Member States with regard to the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security. This is further supported by Article 4(2) TFEU which explicitly states that issues relating to national security are the sole responsibility of the Member States.

Passports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK passports were revoked as a result of links to terrorist activity in each month since the beginning of 2014.

James Brokenshire: People may be refused a British passport or may have their existing passport withdrawn on a number of grounds, including that their grant or continued enjoyment of a passport is contrary to the public interest. Public interest grounds include seeking to harm the UK or her allies by travelling on a British passport to, for example, engage in terrorism-related activity.From 1 January to 30 September 2014, the Royal Prerogative power to withdraw or refuse a British Passport has been exercised 21 times on public interest grounds.

Organised Crime: EU Law

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2014 to Question 207073, whether the UK could take part, through membership of the relevant EU Council working groups, in the sharing of advice and best practice between EU member states on fighting organised crime if it did not opt back into Joint Action 97/827/JHA.

Karen Bradley: If the UK did not opt back into Joint Action 97/827/JHA it may, in theory, continue to attend the relevant Council of the European Union working groups. However, there are no alternative methods open to the UK that are considered to be as effective as cooperation under the EU measure in order to evaluate the application and implementation at national level of international undertakings in the fight against organised crime.

Free Movement of People

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to bring forward proposals to limit the free movement of people into the UK from other EU countries.

James Brokenshire: We have been clear that free movement is an important principle of the EU but it cannot be unqualified. Freedom of movement is not, and cannot be, a freedom to claim benefits. Across Government we have introduced a series of tough domestic reforms to tackle the abuse of free movement rights and to ensure that our controls on accessing benefits and services are amongst the tightest in Europe. The Prime Minister has made clear that further steps are needed.

Islamic State

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many arrests have been made of suspects affiliated to ISIL in London during the last three months.

James Brokenshire: So far this year more than 100 people have been arrested across the country on suspicion of terrorist offences related to Syria.

Diplomatic Service: Entry Clearances

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms are in place to progress visas for foreign diplomats.

James Brokenshire: Foreign diplomats can be exempt from immigration control in certain circumstances (for example, those posted to the UK). Any person who isexempt from immigration control does not require prior entry clearance. However, it is strongly advised that visa nationals obtain an exempt vignettebefore travelling to the UK to avoid unnecessary delays on arrival. These applications are considered quickly.Serving government ministers (or equivalent, such as Governors General) of states recognised by Her Majesty’s Government travelling to the UK on the official business of their government are also exempt from immigration control. Entry Clearance Officers may issue two-year exempt vignettes to people in this category. Diplomats visiting the UK in a private capacity are subject to immigration control. If they are a visa national, they apply for a visa and are considered under the Immigration Rules. These applications are considered according to our service standards.Guidance on Exemption for foreign diplomats can be found at the Gov.UK website:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exempt-exm/exempt-exm

Prisoners

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the statement made by the then Prime Minister to the House on 2 March 1972 on the use of the five techniques relating to interrogation of prisoners is still the policy of the Government.

James Brokenshire: None of the five techniques which the 1972 Committee considered is permissible under current law. UK police forces are required to adhere to the provisions PACE Code H and Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000, which deal respectively with the detention of individuals who are suspected of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism and the procedures which must be followed in those cases. Independent Custody Visitors, lay individuals who visit designated places of detention of terrorist suspects additionally review and report on the condition of their detention, to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation who annually reports on the operation of the Terrorism Acts. The Independent Reviewer plays a vital role in scrutinising UK counter-terrorism legislation to ensure that it is fair, effective and proportionate.In 2010, the Government published the ‘Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel on the Detention and Interviewing of Detainees Overseas, and on the Passing and Receipt of Intelligence Relating to Detainees’. This guidance set out the principles, consistent with UK domestic law and international law obligations, which govern the interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees. This guidance must be adhered to by officers of the UK’s intelligence and security agencies, members of the UK’s Armed Forces and employees of the Ministry of Defence.

Data Protection

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to improve the level of transparency in the Government's use of personal data.

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of online do not track tools on (a) Government efforts to gather communications data and (b) individual online privacy.

James Brokenshire: The UK has one of the most transparent regimes in the world in relation to the use of investigatory powers, which involve the accessing of personal data. The Interception of Communications Commissioner provides robust, independent oversight of the use of these investigatory powers and provides a published annual report to Parliament. This report includes statistics on public authorities’ use of interception and communications data powers, and his 2013 report contained more statistics than ever before. The Government remains committed to looking at what more can be done to enhance the transparency of our regime. The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014, which was passed in July, requires the Interception of Communications Commissioner to report on a twice yearly basis in the future. In addition, the Act provides for a review of investigatory powers to be conducted by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, David Anderson QC. This review will be completed by 1 May 2015 and its findings will be reported to Parliament. The Government also announced, alongside the Act, the publication of an annual Government Transparency Report on investigatory powers.The Government is fully committed to supporting a safe and secure online environment. That is why it is crucial that our law enforcement and intelligence agencies have strictly regulated powers to ensure that those that would seek to do harm online, as well as in the real world, cannot carry out their activities with impunity. There are limits to what could be said publically about operational investigative techniques, as to do so would potentially help criminals to evade detection. However, crucial capabilities to access communications data are degrading because of rapidly changing technology and the increasing use of internet communications, whether or not those communications utilise encryption or anonymity techniques. Legislation is needed urgently to ensure that public authorities have the powers they need to investigate crime, safeguard national security and protect the public. We cannot allow cyberspace to become a haven for criminals, terrorists and paedophiles.

Illegal Immigrants: Ports

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many clandestine migrants have been identified at (a) the UK's seaport and (b) the Port of Tilbury in each year since 2000.

James Brokenshire: The following detections of clandestine migrants have been made across all UK sea ports since 2011 (to obtain data pre-2011 would be at disproportionate cost): 692 detections in 2011, 568 in 2012 and 678 in 2013. In order to ensure the integrity and security of the UK border, Her Majesty’s Government does not comment on port specific statistics.The figures quoted are management information, subject to internal quality checks and may be subject to change. The figures include those detected at a sea port and on ferries.

Electronic Warfare

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the UK's vulnerability to cyber-terrorism.

James Brokenshire: The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre is responsible for assessing a range of terrorist threats facing the UK, including terrorist use of cyber space, and keeps such threats under regular review. The threat from international terrorism, regardless of the methodology employed, is currently assessed as SEVERE, meaning that an attack is highly likely.

Frontex

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any (a) request by the UK to participate in the activities of Frontex and (b) any offer by the UK to make its expertise and facilities available to Frontex has been refused by the Management Board of Frontex in the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The UK does not participate fully in Frontex by virtue of its decision not to join the external borders part of Schengen agreement. The Frontex Regulation was nevertheless drafted in such a way to require Frontex to facilitate operational cooperation between the UK and Member States on a case by case basis (Article 12(1) of the Frontex Regulation). The nature of Frontex lends itself to UK involvement on a case by case basis.As a result there have been no occasions within the last five years when the Management Board of Frontex has refused an offer made by the UK to make its expertise and facilities available for Frontex activities.Over the last five years, the UK has provided experts in air borders, returns and fraudulent documents as well as debriefers, interpreters, screeners and a heartbeat detector with operator.

Frontex

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assistance the UK has provided to Frontex operations in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The UK does not participate fully in Frontex by virtue of its decision not to join the external borders part of Schengen agreement. The Frontex Regulation was nevertheless drafted in such a way to require Frontex to facilitate operational cooperation between the UK and Member States on a case by case basis (Article 12(1) of the Frontex Regulation). The nature of Frontex lends itself to UK involvement on a case by case basis.As a result there have been no occasions within the last five years when the Management Board of Frontex has refused an offer made by the UK to make its expertise and facilities available for Frontex activities.Over the last five years, the UK has provided experts in air borders, returns and fraudulent documents as well as debriefers, interpreters, screeners and a heartbeat detector with operator.

Members: Correspondence

Mr David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to her letter to the Director General, UK Visas and Immigration of 22 September 2014 on behalf of a constituent, CTS reference M13587.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Offences against Children: Internet

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times digitally stored photographs seized by police forces in England and Wales investigating online child abuse were checked against the National Crime Agency's Childbase electronic database of known abuse images in each of the last four years; and how many times that database was used by each police force in England and Wales.

Mike Penning: The Childbase database is no longer live and ceased to be active in 2011. All forces have access to the National Hash Set Database which houses images seen and categorised by UK forces. We are developing a national capability for collecting, assessing and storing indecent images of children (IIOC) for law enforcement agencies. This capability will also be used to provide hash set data to the internet industry, to allow them to remove these appalling images from their networks. The child abuse image database (CAID) will be operational by the end of 2014.

Offences against Children: Internet

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of online child abuse were referred from the National Crime Agency to individual police forces in each of the last four years; and how many of those referrals included named individuals.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Offences against Children: Internet

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the National Crime Agency has made a request to internet services providers to link an identified IP address with a name and address in each of the last four years; how many such requests were made in relation to investigations into online child abuse; and what the average charge made for each such request was.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

101 Calls

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on the 101 non-emergency number.

Mike Penning: There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State and the Scottish Government on the 101 non-emergency number.

101 Calls

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of calls to the 101 non-emergency number originate in Scotland.

Mike Penning: Police Scotland launched the 101 non-emergency service on 1 April 2013. During the period 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2014, 3.3 million calls originated from Scotland. This constitutes 9.3% of total calls to the 101 non-emergency number during this period.

Immigration Controls

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the (a) total expenditure and (b) expenditure on operations by Border Force in 2014-15, including any allocation for the e-Borders arbitration costs.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

101 Calls

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the cost to the caller for the 101 non-emergency number.

Mike Penning: We are currently considering options to review the impact of 101, including the cost. Research by Ofcom shows that a small fixed charge does not deter people from calling the service and reduces the likelihood of it being used inappropriately. The latest Crime Survey (published July 2013) shows that use of the 101 number has increased since 2011.

101 Calls

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the cost to callers of the 101 non-emergency number.

Mike Penning: The Department has received 49 representations about the charge for using the 101 police non-emergency number in the last three years. The public have always paid to contact the police for non-emergencies and the 15 pence per call charge is a competitive and transparent rate, especially when compared to previous police non-emergency numbers (such as 0845 numbers) which could cost up to 40 pence per minute.

Asylum: Peterborough

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been supported with accommodation under the auspices of the National Asylum Support Service in Peterborough constituency in each quarter since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The National Asylum Support Service was disbanded in 2006. Asylum support is now managed through regional asylum teams. Support may be provided under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute until their asylum claim is determined. Section 95 support can be provided as both accommodation and subsistence, or accommodation or subsistence only.The numbers of asylum seekers in receipt of support are available broken down by Local Authority. The following table shows the number of asylum seekers in receipt of Section 95 support in Peterborough Local Authority as at the end of each quarter since the end of March 2010 to June 2014.The numbers of asylum seekers in receipt of section 95 support, broken down by Local Authority, are published on a quarterly basis by the Home Office in Table as_16_q of the Immigration Statistics release .The copy of the latest publication (Immigration statistics, April to June 2014 ) is available on the Gov.UK website:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

101 Calls

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department's contract for provision of the 101 non-emergency number is due to be reviewed.

Mike Penning: The contract for the 101 service is due to expire on 31 March 2016. The Department plans to start the process of evaluating options for the future delivery of the service in January 2015.

Entry Clearances: West Africa

Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what visa arrangements are being made for citizens of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea whose visas are expiring or expired and whose return flights have been cancelled by the relevant airlines.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national prisoners released without consideration of deportation since 2010 have been (a) subsequently convicted of a crime in the UK, (b) sentenced to prison or community sentence in the UK and (c) been deported.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) name, (b) offence and (c) date of deportation was of the foreign national prisoners released without consideration of deportation since 2010 who were subsequently convicted.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to make it possible for asylum seekers to make a complaint without it costing them money to call from their mobile phones.

James Brokenshire: Complaints regarding the operation of the Asylum system can be made by email or in writing to UK Visas and Immigration. Information regarding the UK Visas and Immigration complaints procedure and how to contact the Complaints Allocation Hub is available to the public at the following website link:www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about/complaints-procedure

Asylum

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure complaints submitted by asylum seekers to G4S sub-contractors have been passed on to G4S by those sub-contractors.

James Brokenshire: The COMPASS contract lays down requirements for accommodation standards and for the receipt of enquiries and complaints from service users. The providers are contractually required to provide safe, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped accommodation to comply with relevant mandatory and statutory requirements in relation to housing, including the Housing Act 2004 and the Decent Home standards. G4S provide a 24-hour helpline which provides support, advice and opportunity to raise complaints for service users. In addition, G4S and the Home Office conduct regular accommodation inspections across G4S’ property portfolio which presents the opportunity to ensure appropriate accommodation standards are being met and that service users are getting the right level of service.

Immigration Controls

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what change there was in the number of passengers refused entry at port and subsequently deported from 2009 to 2010; and what assessment she has made of the reasons for that change.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Bail

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to set a maximum time for which a person can be on police bail following arrest and prior to any charge.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Bail

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the number of people in England and Wales who are on police bail but have not been charged.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Syria

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2014 to Question 210553, how many of the people granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme (a) are family members of individuals who qualify as vulnerable under the scheme and (b) have been assessed as having serious medical needs.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

UK Border Force

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the budget was for Border Force (a) total and (b) operations expenditure in 2013-14.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel Restrictions

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from each country were (a) added to and (b) removed from the travel exclusion list in each of the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel Restrictions

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions visa bans have been used to prevent people from each country of origin considered to be involved in corruption or organised crime from travelling to the UK in each of the last five years; and on how many occasions such bans have been revoked.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Illegal Immigrants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many clandestine entrants were identified within the UK after passing through one of the UK's points of entry in each of the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Illegal Immigrants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many attempted clandestine entrants were identified at the UK's points of entry by means other than body scanning technology in each of the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure compiance with Article 6 of the 1968 Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Government committed itself to reduce the number of operationally available nuclear warheads to no more than 120 and to reduce our overall nuclear weapon stockpile to no more than 180 by the mid 2020s. The Government also gave an assurance that the UK will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-Nuclear Weapons States Parties to the NPT and who are not in material breach of their obligations under the NPT. We have continued to work to build the confidence between the Nuclear Weapons States which is necessary for further reductions, for example through the UK-initiated P5 process. We continue to push for entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and for negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty to start in the Conference on Disarmament. We have made clear that our goal is a world without nuclear weapons. This goal has to be approached step by step through further reductions by the two States which hold the majority of nuclear weapons, and through increased confidence between the Nuclear Weapon States.

Morocco

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of Question 209911 on Western Sahara, which borders of Morocco the UK recognises.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK deals with Morocco on the basis of its internationally-recognised borders. While the UK considers Morocco as the de facto administering power of part of Western Sahara, we regard the status of the territory as undetermined. The UK supports the UN Secretary-General and his Special Envoy in their efforts to resolve the Western Sahara dispute through a negotiated settlement, providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the findings and recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are submitted to the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court; and what further steps his Department has taken pursuant to the findings of that inquiry.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is not a State Party to the International Criminal Court, so it has no jurisdiction in the absence of a UN Security Council resolution. The UK worked with the EU and likeminded partners to ensure a strong DPRK resolution at the March UN Human Rights Council, including a call for the UN General Assembly to submit the report of the Commission of Inquiry to the UN Security Council for its consideration and appropriate action. In April, we and other Security Council members took part in an informal public “Arria” briefing by the Commission of the Inquiry.The UK has also played an active role in raising human rights violations in the DPRK in other meaningful ways. For example, in May we raised the need for a continued focus on human rights during a UN Security Council Sanctions Committee and in June I visited Geneva, where I took part in an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the DPRK, Mr Mazuki Darusman and raised the importance of DPRK human rights with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.In addition to recommendations on accountability, the Commission of Inquiry made a number of recommendations with regard to human rights dialogue and people-to-people contact. Through our Embassy in Pyongyang and the DPRK Embassy in London the UK continues to support activity in both these areas.

Honduras

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the International Finance Corporation World Bank Loans to Honduran company DINANT.

Mr Hugo Swire: I am aware of the International Finance Corporation’s loan to palm oil company Dinant. I am also aware of the subsequent review carried out by the World Bank. The British Government is committed to advancing respect for human rights and our officials are promoting the importance of business and human rights around the world. We will continue to monitor this case closely.

Written Questions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's latest internal guidance for officials on the drafting of answers to parliamentary questions.

Mr David Lidington: The Office of the Leader of the House provides guidance to all Departments on the practice of answering Parliamentary Questions.The full Guide is available on the gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work. A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library. The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons intends to review the Guide to Parliamentary Work in the coming months.

North Korea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the findings of the United Nations Panel of Experts that many of the component parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) Unha-3 rocket were manufactured in the UK; and what steps are being taken to tighten existing UN sanctions on the DPRK's weapons programmes.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: HMG welcomes the UN DPRK Panel of Experts' 2014 Final Report. As highlighted in the report, we are cooperating fully with the Panel's investigation, whose preliminary conclusions were that all UK-origin parts used in the Unha-3 rocket were uncontrolled (i.e. off-the-shelf) items. These items do not contravene UN sanctions, MTCR control listings or UK trade restrictions and were not sold directly to the DPRK or its entities.This highlights the lengths the DPRK takes to avoid direct purchases in favour of acquisitions through intermediaries based in third countries. HMG remains fully committed to upholding the UN-imposed sanctions on the DPRK and monitors UK activity closely to control the DPRK’s access to proliferation-sensitive material and collaborates with partners to minimise the risk of goods being diverted.

Sri Lanka

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage the Sri Lankan government to cooperate with a UN investigation into alleged war crimes.

Mr Hugo Swire: We continue to urge the Sri Lankan government to co-operate fully with the UN Human Rights Council resolution of March 2014, which calls for an international investigation into alleged violations of international law on both sides of Sri Lanka’s recent conflict. Our High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has raised this point directly with members of the Sri Lankan government and in public statements. We also continue to call for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, to use their leverage to encourage Sri Lanka’s co-operation. More recently, during the opening session of the UN Human Rights Council in September, our Ambassador to the UN also called upon the Sri Lankan government to co-operate with the investigation and ensure those co-operating with the investigation can do so without fear of intimidation or reprisal.

Electronic Surveillance

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has entered into any agreement with the company Level 3 to operate as an intercept partner to intercept communications data at the interface between the public internet system and the Google Cloud.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is the long-standing policy of successive governments not to comment on matters of intelligence.

North Korea: South Korea

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of relations between North and South Korea after clashes on the 38th parallel.

Mr Hugo Swire: In recent weeks, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have exchanged fire across the Demilitarised Zone which separates both countries. On 10 October, DPRK troops fired at balloons containing leaflets sent by South Korean non-governmental organisation activists across the border resulting in the ROK military returning fire. On 19 October, the ROK fired warning shots at DPRK troops approaching the border resulting in another exchange of fire. No casualties were reported. We call on both sides to exercise restraint. Both the DPRK and ROK have recently engaged in dialogue, including holding high-level military talks on 15 October. We welcome the news that a provisional agreement was reached for the resumption of inter-Korean high level dialogue and hope this leads to real progress, including on reunions of families separated during the Korean War.

Honduras

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received linking the company DINANT to the murders of civilians in the Bajo Augán region of Honduras.

Mr Hugo Swire: I am aware of reports linking the company DINANT to the murders of civilians in the Bajo Aguan region of Honduras. Her Majesty’s Government attaches great importance to respect for human rights around the world and takes such allegations very seriously. Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Honduras visited the Bajo Aguan region last year, and officials will continue to monitor this case closely. The British Government, of course, supports a full and thorough investigation by the Honduran authorities into any report of murder or abuse of human rights.

Saudi Arabia

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to address the number of executions by beheading in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union. While we are fully committed to global abolition, we must recognise that the total abolition of the death penalty is unlikely in Saudi Arabia in the near future. For now, our focus is on the introduction of EU minimum standards for the death penalty as a first step, and supporting access to justice and rule of law.

North Korea

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will consider implementing sanctions against individuals and entities suspected of perpetrating crimes against humanity, as detailed in the UN Commission of Inquiry on North Korea.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UN Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) recommended the introduction by the UN Security Council of targeted sanctions on human rights grounds. Existing UN and EU sanctions against the DPRK are based on UN Security Council Resolutions prohibiting the further development of the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. They target goods and activities that support those programmes, and individuals and organisations, both inside and outside the DPRK, who have acted in breach of these Resolutions. Any introduction of sanctions on human rights grounds would require the establishment of a new sanctions regime. The UK would want any new sanctions proposals to have a clear impact on the human rights situation in North Korea without any unintended negative effect on the general population. Any sanctions against individuals or organisations would also have to meet the strict requirements established in recent legal cases where sanctions have been successfully challenged in the UK and European courts.

Hong Kong

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the recent political unrest in Hong Kong.

Mr Hugo Swire: We have been monitoring events in Hong Kong closely over recent weeks including, in particular, through regular reports from our posts in Hong Kong and Beijing. We also continue to meet regularly at senior level with both the Chinese authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to discuss the situation. I met Hong Kong Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen on 14 October. We have consistently called on all sides to ensure that the demonstrations are peaceful and in accordance with the law, including in my response to a Westminister Hall Debate on 22 October, in my Written Ministerial Statement of 13 October, and in a Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement on 2 October on the question of constitutional reform. We encourage all parties to engage in dialogue and work towards a consensus that allows a significant step forward for democracy.

Taiwan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the UK's trading relationship with Taiwan.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK and Taiwan enjoy a strong trading relationship. In 2013 total bilateral goods trade between the UK and Taiwan was £4.59bn. UK exports of goods to Taiwan increased 7.8% year-on-year to £1.16bn, the second highest level in history. Trade in services have been increasing over the last decade reaching £958m in 2012 (figures for 2013 will be available in November).The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) in Taipei promote the trading relationship through engagement with industry, trade missions and trade visits, for example, the visit of the Lord Mayor of the City of London in January to promote financial services collaboration, and the bilateral trade talks in July.

Senkaku Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the disputed Senkaku or Diaoyu islands.

Mr Hugo Swire: Whilst the UK does not take a position on underlying sovereignty claims to the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, we have a clear interest in maintaining regional peace and stability. We regularly discuss East Asian regional security issues with our international partners.

Saudi Arabia

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representation he has made to his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr; and what steps he is taking to condemn such acts and prevent their re-occurrence.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We understand that Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has been sentenced to death. It is still possible for him to appeal the decision, and we will not be making representations while the legal process is ongoing.The death penalty undermines human dignity and its abolition is a human rights priority for the UK. Ministers, our Ambassador in Riyadh and the Embassy team raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union. We recognise that total abolition of the death penalty is unlikely in Saudi Arabia in the near future. Our focus is therefore on the introduction of EU minimum standards for the death penalty as a first step, and on supporting access to justice and rule of law.

Bahrain

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of ethnic discrimination by the Bahraini government against Bahraini Shia; and what steps he is taking to condemn and to prevent such discrimination in Bahrain.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry made a number of observations regarding long-standing complaints of sect-based discrimination in Bahrain. We have raised these concerns with the Government of Bahrain and we continue to encourage the Bahraini authorities to implement in full the recommendations set out in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.

South Sudan

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure a comprehensive arms and ammunition embargo is imposed on all parties in South Sudan.

Mr Hugo Swire: An EU arms embargo is already in place in South Sudan. This is supported by a targeted EU sanctions regime of restrictive measures against specific individuals, adopted in July 2014 with strong UK support. We also believe that discussions on the content of a potential UN Security Council sanctions resolution should begin in New York soon and we are engaging closely with key partners to that end.

Intelligence Services Act 1994

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times activity has been authorised under section 7 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994 in each year since 2010.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is the long-standing policy of successive governments not to comment on matters of intelligence. However, the Intelligence Services Commissioner’s annual reports provide details of his oversight of Section 7 ISA authorisations. The most recent report was published in June 2014.

Iran

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy in the P5+1 talks is on Iran's capability to build a nuclear weapon.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK is committed to ensuring that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapons capability. A comprehensive agreement between the E3+3 [P5+1] and Iran is the best way to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.

Foreign Policy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to secure greater separation of UK foreign policy from that of the US.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK has an independent foreign policy. However, the UK places great emphasis on the special relationship it holds with the US, and will continue to work with them on the most pressing challenges facing the world today. Our partnership has a very clear common agenda: ensuring our security, delivering economic growth and stability at home and across the world, and promoting our shared values.

Middle East

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries sustained as a result of conflict in Israel and Gaza in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Since January 2014, we estimate that in Gaza over 1,475 Palestinians have been killed and over 5,000 injured. We have not made any estimates of how many Israelis have been killed or injured in the same period, but during the recent Gaza crisis six Israeli civilians were killed (including one child). On 22 October, a three month old child was killed, while seven others were injured when a Palestinian drove his car into a light rail stop in East Jerusalem.

Syria

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the use of chemical weapons by ISIS in Kobani on 21 October 2014.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of reports in the public domain of the use by ISIL in Kobani of industrial chemicals as weapons. We condemn unreservedly all and any use of chemical weapons. Use is a breach of international norms. Any party using chemical weapons should be brought to justice.

Nigeria

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Nigerian government about Nigerian schoolchildren abducted in April 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: We continue to work closely with the Nigerian authorities and our other partners in the search for the abducted Chibok girls. On 3 September, my Hon Friend, the Member for Southend and Rochford East (James Duddridge MP), the Minister for Africa led the UK delegation to the Abuja ministerial meeting on security in Nigeria. At this meeting, he emphasised the importance of regional coordination between Nigeria and its neighbours in defeating Boko Haram and locating the girls. The Prime Minister has stressed to President Jonathan our continued commitment to helping the Nigerian Government find the girls. It is not yet clear what impact the recently announced ceasefire between the Nigerian security forces and Boko Haram might have on the missing Chibok girls. We are monitoring events closely.

Ebola

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of international efforts to tackle the spread of the Ebola virus; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK has been at the forefront of the international response to the Ebola outbreak, working closely with the UN. However, the UK Government recognises that much more needs to be done to ensure that the spread of Ebola in West Africa is contained. That is why my Rt Hon Friend, the Member for Witney (David Cameron), Prime Minister has pushed for an urgent and ambitious scale-up in EU and Member States resources to fight Ebola at October’s European Council. The Prime Minster will make a statement about this on Monday 27 October. We have also been working with international partners to encourage them to increase contributions, including to the UN’s Ebola Trust Fund, which is currently significantly underfunded.

Middle East

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the (a) recent incidence of rocket attacks on Israel and (b) present level of threat of such attacks; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have not received any reports of recent incidences of rocket attacks on Israel and we believe that the present level of threat of such attacks is low to moderate. We are aware of recent false alarms of rocket fire into Israel. We amended our travel advice for Israel on 2 September, to remove advice against all travel to areas of Israel within a 40km range of the Israeli border with Gaza.

Nigeria

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Nigeria about the return of girls abducted by Boko Haram; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: We continue to work closely with the Nigerian authorities and our other partners in the search for the abducted Chibok girls. On 3 September, my Hon Friend, the Member for Southend and Rochford East (James Duddridge MP), the Minister for Africa, led the UK delegation to the Abuja ministerial meeting on security in Nigeria. At this meeting, he emphasised the importance of regional coordination between Nigeria and its neighbours in defeating Boko Haram and locating the girls. The Prime Minister has stressed to President Jonathan our continued commitment to helping the Nigerian Government find the girls. It is not yet clear what impact the recently announced ceasefire between the Nigerian security forces and Boko Haram might have on the missing Chibok girls. We are monitoring events closely.

Thailand

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Thailand in the last six months regarding the prosecution of Andy Hall.

Mr Hugo Swire: I have been following Mr Hall’s case since 2013, and raised it while I was in Thailand in May 2013. Officials at our Embassy in Bangkok and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London continue to monitor his case closely, ensuring that it is raised with the Thai authorities where appropriate. We continue to remind the Thai authorities of their obligations to ensure international human rights standards are upheld. We fully support the right of activists to carry out their work and voice their opinion in order to promote human rights peacefully.

Hong Kong

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Chinese government on the recent demonstrations in Hong Kong.

Mr Hugo Swire: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 14 October 2014 (PQ 210244).

Sanctions

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a comparative assessment of the criteria used to draw up the (a) UK, (b) US and (c) UN sanctions lists.

Mr Hugo Swire: There are over 30 sanctions regimes at either EU or UN level. Sanctions regimes are designed to combat a range of issues including: proliferation, terrorism and human rights issues. Criteria for each regime are therefore very different and crafted to meet the specific ends of the sanctions regime. The EU implements all UN sanctions and in doing so will reflect the criteria agreed at UN level. However, where the EU implements its own sanctions regime or goes further than UN sanctions (e.g. on Iran or Syria), the criteria are set by the EU. US sanctions criteria for their own domestic measures vary from regime to regime and may be different from the UN or EU criteria. UK sanctions lists replicate UN / EU lists except in relation to counter-terrorism sanctions where, in addition to implementing UN / EU sanctions, the Treasury can freeze domestically the assets of those believed to have been involved in terrorist related activity, where this is necessary for public protection from terrorism, under the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Act 2010.

Cabinet Office

Business: North West

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many small and medium-sized enterprises have premises in (a) Pendle, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



ONS Letter to Member - SMEs
(PDF Document, 265.46 KB)

Unemployment: Young People

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the level of youth unemployment in Pendle constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Youth Unemployment
(PDF Document, 126.23 KB)

Attorney General

Euthanasia

Glyn Davies: To ask the Attorney General, what the policy is of the Crown Prosecution Service in prosecuting cases of encouraging or assisting suicide.

Mr Robert Buckland: When prosecuting cases of encouraging or assisting suicide, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutors make decisions in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the Director of Public Prosecutions Policy for Prosecutors in respect of cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide.   Following the recent Supreme Court Judgement in the case of ‘Nicklinson and others’, the policy was updated on the 16 October 2014 to clarify issues raised regarding healthcare professionals (and others with similar responsibilities for individuals).   A copy of the updated policy is available on the CPS website at: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/prosecution/assisted_suicide_policy.html

Harassment

Mr Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Attorney General, how many people have been charged to date under sections (a) 2A and (b) 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 who could not have been charged using sections (i) 2 and (ii) 4.

Mr Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a separate record of the number of people charged and prosecuted for stalking under sections (a) 2A and (b) 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 who could not have been charged for harassment using sections (i) 2 and (ii) 4. The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 does not provide a definitive list of behaviors that would allow for a prosecution for either harassment or stalking and CPS prosecutors determine the most appropriate charges in any given prosecution based on the facts of the case.

Stalking

Stella Creasy: To ask the Attorney General, how many people have been charged under the provisions of section 4a of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 since 25 November 2012.

Mr Robert Buckland: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd on 23rd October 2014 (questions, 211141, 211143 and 211144). The previous answer included tables detailing the number of offences charged under Sections 4A(1)(a)(b)(i), Sections 4A(1)(a)(b)(ii) and 2A(1) of the 1997 Act broken down by each police force in England and Wales.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Riot Control Weapons: Exports

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, under what circumstances of internal repression or violation of international humanitarian law an export licence for tear gas would be suspended or withdrawn.

Matthew Hancock: All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and the prevailing circumstances at the time of each application. Criterion 2 concerns the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination, as well as respect by that country for international humanitarian law. An export licence would not be granted if there was a clear risk that the goods to be exported might be used for internal repression. Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts overseas have a standing requirement to monitor developments in human rights and conflicts in their respective countries and to report back if there are any developments that might affect licensing policy. In addition, open source material such as NGO reporting is used to make such assessments. Licences are revoked on a case-by-case basis if the proposed export is judged to be no longer compatible with the Consolidated Criteria. Existing licences, and the processing of new export licences, may be suspended, again on a case-by-case basis, where the security conditions in the export destination deteriorate to the point that it is not possible to make a judgement as to whether a particular licence remains consistent with the Consolidated Criteria.

Timber

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many prosecutions the National Measurement Office have brought for offences relating to illegally felled timber in each of the last five years.

Greg Clark: This is a matter for the National Measurement Office.



National Measurement Office response.
(PDF Document, 542.01 KB)

Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many overseas students were studying at each UK university in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.

Greg Clark: The Higher Education Statistics Agency collects and publishes data on student enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions. Statistics on enrolments by country of domicile, mode of study, level of study and institution can be accessed via the following link for the latest available academic years, which are 2011/12 and 2012/13.   https://www.hesa.ac.uk/content/view/1973/239/   Information on enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions in the academic year 2013/14 will become available from Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2015.

Management

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Government will take steps to implement the recommendations made in the report entitled Management 2020 by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Management and the Chartered Management Institute.

Matthew Hancock: The Government recognise the value of young people having a hands-on experience of enterprise in schools, colleges and universities.   The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has introduced a number of measures to help inspire young people and open up opportunities for future careers. For example, seed funding the launch of a new enterprise competition in primary schools, 'Fiver', in partnership with Young Enterprise and Virgin Money.   Last year we asked Lord Young, the Prime Minister's advisor on enterprise, to look at what more could be done. His report, Enterprise for All, was published in June 2014 and makes a number of recommendations across all education sectors to encourage a lifelong experience of enterprise. The Government welcomed the report and will be responding in full this autumn. We are also recognising the excellent practice that already exists. For example, the Small Business Charter was set up this year to recognise business schools that work with students and local small businesses to promote enterprise.   In addition, See Inside Manufacturing is a partnership between BIS and industry sectors that aims to inspire young people (aged 11-19 years) into manufacturing by dispelling outdated ideas of the industry, providing a more accurate picture of career prospects, and helping young people understand what they need to succeed in manufacturing. It does this by encouraging manufacturing businesses to open their doors and give students the chance to “see behind the scenes” of a modern manufacturing company. Last year 6,300 young people and their teachers attended events up and down the country, taking part in over 175 visits and events throughout the UK.   Furthermore, the Government’s ambitious programme of reform for adult vocational education in England is based on instilling rigour in qualifications, teaching and testing and ensuring that skills provision is more responsive to the needs of employers and learners. As part of our reform of apprenticeships, new apprenticeship standards will be expected to meet professional registration requirements in sectors where these exist (for example, in engineering, science and accountancy). This will support the drive to improve the quality of apprenticeships and ensure that apprentices are trained to the level of professional competence required by employers and the sector they work in.

Written Questions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's latest internal guidance for officials on the drafting of answers to parliamentary questions.

Jo Swinson: A copy of the Department’s internal guidance will be placed in the Libraries of the House.   The Office of the Leader of the House also provides guidance to all Departments on the practice of answering Parliamentary Questions.   The full Guide is available on the gov.uk website at: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work.   A copy of this guidance has already been placed in the libraries of the House. The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons intends to review the Guide to Parliamentary Work in the coming months. 



Parliamentary Unit Process and Guidance
(Word Document, 119 KB)

New Businesses: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many start-up loans have been granted to businesses in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey to date.

Matthew Hancock: Woking ConstituencySurreyVolume of drawn Start Up Loans31 loans223 loans

Scottish Power

Mr William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he last reviewed the adequacy of prior investigations in connection with the nature of the warranties sold by Scottish Power to its customers between 1980 and 1999 and any potential losses suffered by such customers.

Jo Swinson: It is not the policy of the Secretary of State to announce or comment on confidential enquiries conducted using powers contained in the Companies Acts.However, the Secretary of State has recently received further information regarding the Extended Warranty schemes sold by Scottish Power between 1997 and 2001 from the liquidators of two companies involved in administering the schemes. Officials are currently reviewing this information together with the conclusions of an earlier investigation to determine what further action, if any, is appropriate.

Scottish Power

Mr William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will reopen the enquiry into the nature of the warranties sold by Scottish Power to its customers between 1980 and 1999 and any potential losses suffered by such customers.

Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State has recently received further information regarding the Extended Warranty schemes sold by Scottish Power between 1997 and 2001 from the liquidators of two companies involved in administering the schemes. Officials are currently reviewing this information together with the conclusions of an earlier investigation to determine what further action, if any, is appropriate, within the limits of his powers of investigation under the Companies Acts. The liquidators have also notified other regulators who may have an interest in this matter and who will be considering their own courses of action. It should be noted that any decision whether or not to commence an investigation using s447 Companies Act 1986 is confidential and the existence or otherwise of such an investigation will not be announced or commented on.

Interest Rate Swap Transactions

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the interest rate swap redress scheme.

Matthew Hancock: We have asked the Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for an assurance that redress offers which take the form of a substitute hedging product are only being offered where it is fair and reasonable to do so. In response, the FCA has said that robust oversight and challenge processes are in place to ensure that this is the case and that a replacement product offer can only be made if an independent reviewer is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support the decision.In addition, my officials liaise regularly with the FCA to draw the regulator’s attention to swaps redress cases that have been raised with the department where we think this is justified.

Apprentices: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeship starts there were in each sector in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey in the last 12 months.

Nick Boles: Information on apprenticeship starts by geography and sector subject area is published in a supplementary table to a Statistical First Release (SFR): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364257/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-and-sector-subject-area.xls

Minimum Wage

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps he has taken to ensure employer compliance with minimum wage legislation.

Jo Swinson: Individuals who are entitled to the National Minimum Wage should receive it and we are committed to taking the steps necessary to improve compliance; ensuring employers understand their responsibilities and workers know their rights, and ensuring robust enforcement of the law.Detailed guidance, including how to calculate the minimum wage, is available on the gov.uk website. Confidential advice is also available for both workers and employers through the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. Any worker who is concerned that they have not been paid what they are legally entitled to or who wants to make a complaint, should call the helpline on 0800 917 2368.We have taken a number of steps to strengthen enforcement activity. This year, HMRC’s enforcement budget has increased by £1.2million to £9.2 million. This extra funding will enable HMRC to increase the number of National Minimum Wage compliance officers who, as well as continuing to respond to every complaint, will also undertake targeted enforcement, focusing on the worst offending employers in the highest-risk sectors.Employers who are found to have broken the law face substantially higher penalties. We increased the financial penalty percentage that employers pay for breaking minimum wage law from 50 per cent to 100 per cent of the unpaid wages owed to workers and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. The increase came into effect on 7 March 2014. Since revising the Government’s naming scheme, we have also named 30 employers who between them owed over £50,000 in arrears, to provide further incentive to all employers to comply.

UK Export Finance

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of successful applicants to the UK Export Finance export insurance scheme have been small to medium sized enterprises in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of successful applicants to the UK Export Finance export working capital scheme have been small to medium sized enterprises in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of successful applicants to the UK Export Finance supplier credit facility have been small to medium sized enterprises in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of successful applicants to the UK Export Finance letter of credit guarantee scheme have been small to medium sized enterprises in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of successful applicants to the UK Export Finance buyer credit facility of credit guarantee scheme have been small to medium sized enterprises in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: The table below shows the proportion, expressed as a percentage, of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the total number of exporters UK Export Finance (UKEF) has supported broken down by UKEF product for the last five financial full years.2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/14Buyer Credit0%0%0%11%7%Bond Support Scheme*--67%78%91%Export Insurance Policy20%75%75%54%63%Export Working Capital Scheme*--0%83%100%Letter of Credit Guarantee Scheme0%0%0%0%50%Supplier Credit Facility0%50%29%33%0% *Products launched in 2011/12   SMEs are defined by the EU as companies that have fewer than 250 employees, and either a turnover of less than €50m or a balance sheet total of less than €43m. Information on UKEFs Bond Support Scheme has been included given that it was introduced specifically to support to smaller exporters, especially SMEs.

Conditions of Employment

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to help workers on zero hours contracts who desire regular, contracted employment.

Jo Swinson: Under the Flexible Working Regulations, brought in on 30 June, all employees with 26 continuous weeks of service have the right to request flexible working from their employer. Individuals on zero hours contracts, who are employees, can request a change in their contracts, which could also include a request to move to a fixed hours contract.

Science: Females

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to increase the participation of women in STEM fields.

Greg Clark: The Government is backing the three-year Your Life campaign, which aims to increase the number of people participating in a wide range of careers that need skills in science, technology, engineering and maths, particularly women. To date more than 200 organisations have pledged action to the campaign to boost the role of women in STEM fields. A publicity drive to encourage young people, especially girls, aged 14 to 16 to take STEM subjects, will launch in November 2014.We fund the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering to run a joint STEM Diversity Programme to understand and address issues of diversity, including gender, in the STEM workforce. Actions include a 10 point plan to ensure that women in science, technology, engineering and manufacturing have the same opportunities to progress in their career as their male counterparts

Foreign Investment in UK

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that inward investment and job creation is encouraged on an equal basis in all the regions of the UK.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Metals

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Urgent Question on 16 October 2014, Official Report, column 445, on Tata Steel, when he plans to publish his Department's metals strategy.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Tata Steel

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Urgent Question on 16 October 2014, Official Report, column 445, on Tata Steel, what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have held with (a) Tata Steel and (b) trades unions to discuss the selling of the Long Products Division.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Iron and Steel

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much steel was produced in the UK in each year since 1985.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Exports: Ghana

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what exports from the UK were supported by UK Export Finance's loan guarantee for Mourne Ltd's Kotoka International Airport project in Ghana.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Oil: Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received on consultations held with the Saharawi regarding proposed drilling for oil by Cairn Energy in the waters of Western Sahara.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

EU External Trade: USA

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what work his Department has conducted on identifying specific policy areas and sectors for which the UK will seek exemptions from the scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what representations the UK has made to the EU on exemption of such policy areas or sectors.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Sierra Leone

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has provided to Sierra Leone to combat malaria in each year since May 2010; and what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the malaria prevention programme in that country.

Lynne Featherstone: Since May 2010, DFID Sierra Leone has supported the distribution of 2.3 million long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) through two nationwide campaigns completed in June 2011 and May 2014. The aim of these campaigns was to achieve universal coverage of LLINs in Sierra Leone as the most effective means of preventing malaria. A rapid assessment following the 2014 distribution campaign found that 81% of households visited nationwide were using at least one mosquito net, up from 37% in 2008. However, an evaluation designed to assess the longer term effectiveness of the campaign has been postponed due to the Ebola crisis. In addition, the Global Fund has provided a further 600,000 nets.

Ghana

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what reports she has received of the potential effects of the Plant Breeders Bill in Ghana on small-scale farmers in that country.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department has not, to date, received any reports.

Internally Displaced People: Children

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to assist displaced children under five.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID recognises that displaced children are specifically vulnerable to the consequences of leaving their homes and communities and often their main carers. Working with partner humanitarian agencies DFID looks to ensure that the assistance and protection needs of children, especially the under -fives are addressed with urgency when a crisis occurs. As part of DFID’s regional response to the Syria crisis for example, DFID partners including UNICEF and specialist health NGOs are providing primary health services, including routine immunisation and malnutrition screening for under-5s. DFID is also funding child friendly spaces, which are accessible to accompanied under-5s, and services to unaccompanied and separated children. Under-5s also benefit from the provision of assistance to their caregivers, notably food, shelter, health, protection and psychosocial support.

Burma

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many people have received assistance from the Back Pack Health Worker Team programme funded by her Department.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID has funded around 18% of a health project in Burma that includes the work of the Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) from 1 August 2011 – 31 July 2014. During this period the project as a whole reached approximately 225,000 people in 644 villages, proving services that included bednets to prevent malaria, malaria treatments and other basic healthcare, improved water sources, construction of latrines, water sources, hygiene promotion, and assisting pregnant women with ante-natal care.

Developing Countries: Females

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to help end violence against girls in developing countries; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The UK is at the forefront of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls. DFID has targeted programmes in over 20 DFID priority countries and continues to scale up work on violence against women and girls, as well as integrating the issue across other sector-specific programmes.   In July 2014, the Prime Minister hosted Girl Summit 2014, alongside UNICEF, to galvanise action to end female genital mutilation and child, early and forced marriage in a generation.

West Africa

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many isolation centres the Government is erecting in West Africa to help tackle the Ebola virus.

Justine Greening: The UK is leading the international response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and has now committed £205 million to tackle the disease, including the delivery of 700 beds in Ebola Treatment Centres to provide treatment for individuals infected with Ebola. £50m of UK funding will support the delivery of Community Care Centres, where people who suspect they might be suffering from the disease can seek swift and accurate diagnosis, isolation if needed, and appropriate care. The UK will fund 200 of these centres as part of our broader approach to tackling the Ebola crisis.

West Africa

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many protection suits the Government plans to provide to West Africa to help tackle the Ebola virus.

Justine Greening: The UK is leading the international response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. The UK is working with partners to ensure that people carrying out critical work to tackle the Ebola virus have the protection suits needed and is procuring suits in line with projections and clinical requirements.

Iraq

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure aid packages are dropped over and are received by the civilians most in need in northern Iraq.

Justine Greening: The Department for International Development used the expertise and experience of the UK Military, and worked with other international partners including the US, to ensure aid packages reached civilians most in need in Northern Iraq.

Iraq

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure aid packages are not stolen by ISIS in northern Iraq and surrounding regions.

Justine Greening: The UK is doing all it can to minimise the risks of aid being diverted or misused in Iraq. UK funds are channelled through organisations that have a strong track record of delivering humanitarian aid in difficult and dangerous places. We also apply a rigorous process of due diligence, where they must demonstrate clear and accountable governance structures, with transparent and accountable financial procedures. All partners that receive UK funding must also demonstrate full compliance with humanitarian principles.

Department for Education

College of Social Work

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much central Government funding has been allocated to the College of Social Work from each Department in the 2014-15 financial year.

Mr Edward Timpson: The total of £650,000 of central Government funding has been allocated to the College of Social Work in the current financial year. £200,000 has been provided by the Department for Education, with the Department of Health providing the remaining £450,000.

Special Educational Needs

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the quality of specialist education support services for children in (a) England and (b) Plymouth with low incidence needs.

Mr Edward Timpson: It is for local authorities to determine the support they arrange, including any specialist education services for children and young people with low incidence needs. The importance of making appropriate provision for children with low incidence needs and local authorities including information about specialist support in their local offer is set out in the new 0-25 special educational needs and disability code of practice. Under Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014, local authorities have a duty to keep under review the educational provision, training provision and social care provision made in their area for children and young people who have special educational needs.

Children's Rights

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2014 to Question 210316, if she will publish the child rights impact assessments made in respect of the legislative proposals leading to the Education Act 2011 and the Children and Families Act 2014.

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2014 to Question 210316, if she will publish the outcome of considerations of the potential effect of government policy proposals and government proposals for legislation on the rights of children carried out by the Children's Commissioner under the provisions of the Children and Families Act 2014.

Mr Edward Timpson: The approach the Department for Education has adopted is to make the assessment of children’s rights an integral part of policy and legislative development rather than a one-off exercise. The results of this approach are reflected in the equality impact assessment published for the Education Act 2011.[1]Our consideration of children’s rights during the legislative process also takes account of advice from the Joint Committee on Human Rights.The Office of the Children’s Commissioner is an independent non-Departmental public body and is responsible for publishing the reports it produces.[2]The ECHR and UNCRC note on the Children and Families Act 2014.[3][1] www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130802140618/https://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/e/the%20education%20act%202011%20equalities%20impact%20assessment.pdf[2] www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk[3] www.webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140430083435/http:/www.education.gov.uk/dfe/b00221161/children-families-bill

Teachers: Pensions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will provide funding for schools and colleges providing education for young people under the age of 19 to meet the additional costs arising from the (a) additional employer contribution as set out in the Teachers' Pensions (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 and (b) higher national insurance contributions which will be paid from 1 April 2016 as a result of the Pension Act 2014; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education is asking schools, like other employers across the public sector, to contribute more towards their employees’ pensions to ensure that the cost of public sector pension schemes do not fall unfairly on taxpayers. Our protection of the core schools budget in real terms means that schools are well-placed to cope with changes in their costs in 2015-16. The Department has also deferred the introduction of the increase to September 2015, giving schools an additional five months to plan how they will meet the additional pensions cost.In addition, the Chancellor confirmed that the next spending review will take into account the cost to employers of the reforms to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and the implications for National Insurance.

Offences against Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the World Health Organisation report, Investing in children: the European child maltreatment prevention action plans 2015 to 2020, if she will commission a national action plan on the prevention of child maltreatment.

Mr Edward Timpson: Responsibility for action to tackle child maltreatment and respond to the needs of vulnerable children rests primarily with local government, alongside other local agencies, including health services and the police. This work is co-ordinated by local safeguarding children boards. Our statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’, sets the framework within which local agencies should work on a multi-agency basis to safeguard children. Ofsted inspects local authority services for children in need of help and protection, and inspections focus on the quality of these services, including whether the right decisions are made for young people and whether they are made at the right time.

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the reliability of the information provided to her Department by local authorities on implementation of special educational needs reform for children with hearing impairment.

Mr Edward Timpson: This information is not provided to the Department for Education by local authorities.Local authorities and their partners across education, health and social care are implementing the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms which came into force on 1 September this year. The Department is working closely with local authorities and local Parent carer forums to understand how local implementation of the Children and Families Act 2014 is progressing. Summary findings of the autumn implementation survey will be published before the end of the year. We will also publish local authority data on an annual basis, starting summer 2015.

Primary Education: Teachers

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) male and (b) female teachers there are in state primary schools; and if she will take steps to increase the number of male teachers.

Mr David Laws: The following table provides the full-time equivalent (FTE) number and proportion of male and female regular teachers in service (full-time head count of regular teachers and FTE of part-time regular teachers) in publicly funded primary schools in England, November 2010 to 2013.YearMaleFemaleTotal1 Number%Number%Number201027,20014169,00086196,300201128,10014171,00086199,300201229,20014174,70086204,200201330,60015179,20085209,9001. Includes unspecified gender so will not equal the sum of the individual genders.We value diversity in the workforce and want the best people in the classroom. The quality of teachers across the board is improving – the proportion of primary teachers with a 2:1 degree or better has increased from 62% in 2009/10 to 73% in 2013/14.Nevertheless, we are keen to see more outstanding male teachers in primary schools and the trend is positive. The number of male teachers in primary schools has increased by 3,400 since 2010, whilst the proportion of male primary trainees starting programmes in 2013/14 is 21%, compared to 20% in 2012/13 and 19% in 2011/12. The proportion of male trainees starting School Direct (salaried) initial teacher training primary programmes is even higher at 28% in 2013/14, indicating that schools, when given the power to recruit their own trainees, are particularly successful in recruiting men.

Academies

Mr Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues on the circumstances in which trust members at academy trusts should be (a) elected and (b) selected; and what the process is in each case.

Mr Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues on the circumstances in which parent governors at academy trusts should be (a) elected and (b) selected; and what the process is in each case.

Mr Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues on the circumstances in which directors of the board at academy trusts should be (a) elected and (b) selected; and what the process is in each case.

Mr Edward Timpson: The model articles for academies set out the governance arrangements which we expect academy trusts to follow. They include the arrangements for appointing and electing members, directors and parent directors/governors. The Department for Education provides additional guidance on academies governance through the governors’ handbook and the academies financial handbook.

Sixth Form Colleges

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure sixth form colleges can attract able maths teachers.

Mr Nick Gibb: We have increased the value of teacher training bursaries and scholarships for maths graduates entering teaching. The School Direct Training Programme enables sixth form colleges to recruit their own trainees and tailor training to meet their specific requirements. We fund Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses, which offer graduates and career changers with the right background the chance to develop the expertise needed to teach maths.

Primary Education: Admissions

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department has given to primary schools to ensure that they can provide sufficient places.

Mr David Laws: We are investing £5 billion over this Parliament to support local authorities in their duty to secure sufficient school places for their area. This has already enabled local authorities to create 260,000 additional pupil places between May 2010 and May 2013, including 212,000 primary places, with more in the pipeline for September 2015.

Sixth Form Colleges

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on future funding of sixth form colleges.

Nick Boles: We hope to provide stability in funding rates for sixth form colleges and other 16-19 provision in academic year 2015/16. We plan to announce the rates by the end of January 2015.

Schools: Admissions

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure there is an adequate number of school places; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: 260,000 additional school places have been created between May 2010 and May 2013. We are on track to meet the extra pressures for places across the country.

Ministry of Justice

Electronic Tagging

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on its contract for offender electronic monitoring in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.

Andrew Selous: The table below sets out the amounts spent on electronic monitoring services provided by G4S and Serco for the years requested. 2011-12£116,906,0872012-13£107,684,8102013-14£36,987,915 The 2013-14 figure is significantly lower as we withheld payment in 2013 once we became aware of long-standing anomalies in the billing arrangements on these contracts. We have since recovered all money owed on the contracts from the suppliers. In April 2014 Capita took over the management of the electronic monitoring service, on an interim basis until the new service comes into operation. Under these interim arrangements, G4S and Serco no longer have a direct role in delivering the service on the ground – and we have far greater oversight of costs and charging than previously, with direct access to the suppliers’ systems. We continue to manage these arrangements robustly.

Domestic Violence: Sentencing

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review UK domestic violence sentencing guidelines.

Mike Penning: Sentencing guidelines are produced independently of Government, by the Sentencing Council. The guidelines are available on the Sentencing Council website. Any decision to review the overarching sentencing guideline on domestic violence is a matter for the Sentencing Council. The overarching sentencing guideline on domestic violence makes clear that because an offence has been committed in a domestic context there are likely to be aggravating factors present which make it more serious. The guideline sets out in some detail certain aggravating, and mitigating factors, which are of particular relevance to offences committed in a domestic context. All courts must take this guideline into account, and they must also follow sentencing guidelines for individual offences. This makes sure that the courts have a consistent approach to the task of determining the appropriate sentence in each case.

Prison Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people failed to return to prison following release on temporary licence in each of the last three years; and how many and what proportion of such offenders were subsequently (a) charged with and (b) convicted of a criminal offence under the Prisoners (Return to Custody) Act 1995.

Andrew Selous: My officials are currently working to provide the information requested but it has not proved possible to produce it in the time allowed. I will write to you in due course.

Harassment

Mr Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in respect of how many alleged offences under section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 proceedings are currently active in magistrates' courts in England and Wales.

Mr Shailesh Vara: As of 30 June 2014, the latest date for which data is available, there were 157 proceedings under Section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 outstanding in magistrates’ courts in England and Wales.

Driving Offences: Fines

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to better secure the payment of speeding fines by offenders whose vehicles are registered overseas.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of speeding fines incurred by motorists whose vehicle is registered overseas were paid in the latest period for which data is available.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to encourage payment of impositions and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years. When it appears to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that an offender is normally resident in another EU country HMCTS can transfer road traffic offence fines, imposed by courts in this country, to other EU jurisdictions for enforcement under the EU Framework Decision on Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties (MRFP). The Framework Decision obliges Member States to take over enforcement of eligible fines imposed by other Member States’ courts, where the offender is resident or has assets in the enforcing state. All monies collected however are retained by the enforcing Member State. Where the offender is resident in a non EU country or in one not included in the MRFP Framework there is no mechanism for HMCTS to be able to recover the amounts outstanding. It is not possible to identify the value of fines outstanding which relate to motoring offences for offenders who live overseas without incurring disproportionate cost as this information could only be obtained by a manual search of all live fine accounts.

Large Goods Vehicles: Unpaid Fines

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to retrieve the outstanding balance of any unpaid fines incurred by foreign lorry drivers on UK roads.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to encourage payment of impositions and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years. When it appears to H M Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that an offender is normally resident in another EU country HMCTS can transfer road traffic offence fines, imposed by courts in this country, to other EU jurisdictions for enforcement under the EU Framework Decision on Mutual Recognition of Financial Penalties (MRFP). The Framework Decision obliges Member States to take over enforcement of eligible fines imposed by other Member States’ courts, where the offender is resident or has assets in the enforcing state. Where the offender is resident in a non EU country or in one not included in the MRFP Framework there is no mechanism for HMCTS to be able to recover the amounts outstanding.

Young Offender Institutions

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to prevent violence in young offenders institutions.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to prevent self-harm in young offenders institutions.

Andrew Selous: The Government does not tolerate violence of any kind in young offender institutions and assaults are treated extremely seriously. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is comprehensively reviewing how it manages violence and will issue revised guidance in 2015. NOMS is also working with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to improve the investigation and prosecution of crime in young offender institutions and prisons. The Government is committed to reducing self-harm in young offender institutions. All young offender institutions and prisons are required to have procedures in place to identify, manage and support people who are at risk of harm to themselves. These procedures include the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process, which is an offender-centred, flexible care planning system designed to ensure that offenders at risk are managed in a way that is responsive to individual needs, including those related to age. An analysis of assaults and self-harm by age is included in the Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics.

Young Offenders: Counselling

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to provide emotional support for inmates of young offenders institutions.

Andrew Selous: The Government is committed to providing emotional support to young people and young adults in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). All young offender institutions and prisons are required to have procedures in place to identify, manage and support offenders in need of emotional support or at risk of harming themselves. These procedures include the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process which is an offender-centred, flexible care planning system designed to ensure that offenders at risk are managed in a way that is responsive to individual needs, including those related to age. A recent review of the ACCT process for young people made a number of recommendations that are being taken forward by the National Offender Management Service. NHS England provide a commissioned healthcare service to all YOIs which includes GPs, nurses and mental health professionals to support those with an identified physical or mental health need in custody. Support services provided under contract are equitable with those provided in the community. Healthcare services are supported by the chaplaincy team which offers a range of pastoral support services and by the Samaritans who provide free helpline access and train young offenders aged 18 and over to act as ‘Listeners’, that is, peer supporters for other young offenders who are in crisis.

Young Offenders: Mental Illness

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to prevent young people with mental illnesses and depression from being sentenced to custody in young offenders institutions.

Andrew Selous: When sentencing a child or young person under the age 18, courts have a duty to have regard to the welfare of the offender, which includes their mental health. Youth Offending Teams provide courts with a pre-sentence report for each young person, including information about their mental health and any self-harming or risk taking behaviour. Where emotional and mental health issues have been identified, a referral to the mental health specialist worker should be made for completion of a Comprehensive Health Assessment Tool which will provide details about the support and type of intervention programme needed, tailored to their needs. The pre-sentence report should assess the potential impact of any custodial sentence imposed by the court (including the impact on mental health). In January 2014, the Government announced £25 million of funding for the Liaison and Diversion Programme, which will join up police and courts with mental health services and to fund the provision of mental health professionals to give prompt and appropriate treatment.This Programme, commissioned by NHS England, identifies, assesses and refers people of all ages with a wide range of mental health and other issues on first contact with the criminal justice system. A person assessed with single or multiple vulnerabilities will be referred to the appropriate treatment or support service and care and/or support will be instigated.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will issue advice to hon. Members on the procedures for registering electors who do not have a national insurance number under individual electoral registration.

Mr Gary Streeter: There is an exceptions process which enables individuals who do not have a National Insurance Number to register to vote. Ministerial guidance has been provided for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) which sets out the framework for administering this process.The Commission is currently producing a guide to support anyone interested in promoting electoral registration. This guide will make clear that any individual who does not have a National Insurance Number should be directed to their ERO for advice on what they need to do to register.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the proportion of (a) male and (b) female electors in each ethnic grouping for which data is held who do not have a national insurance number.

Mr Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission has made no such estimate. National Insurance Numbers are allocated by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Commission does not hold any data on this process. Under individual electoral registration, there is an exceptions process which enables individuals who do not have a National Insurance Number to register to vote.

Ministry of Defence

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any UK Reapers or personnel from the UK Reaper Force Squadron have moved from Afghanistan to Qatar or another location in the Gulf in the last year.

Mr Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made in the House on 16 October 2014 (Official Report, column 35WS) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon).



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Israel Defence Forces

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military training the UK armed forces have (a) received from and (b) provided to the Israeli Defence Force in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: Israel is an important strategic partner of the UK and, as part of that relationship, the Ministry of Defence has an ongoing and wide ranging dialogue with the Israeli Defence Force and Israeli Ministry of Defence, including in the field of training. This engagement is in line with Her Majesty's Government policy of supporting the Middle East peace process by having a balanced relationship with the Israelis and the Palestinians. Engagement activity is spread throughout the Services so this information is not held in the requested format.

Torbay

Mr Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many visits were made by Ministers of his Department to Torbay constituency in the 12 months to 14 October 2014; whom the invitation for each such visit was issued by; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such visit.

Anna Soubry: There were no visits made by Defence Ministers to the Torbay Constituency in the last 12 months to 14 October 2014.

Depleted Uranium

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the use of depleted uranium by UK armed forces operating in Iraq and Syria.

Mr Mark Francois: None of the munitions supplied to UK Forces for use over Iraq contains depleted uranium; there are no UK forces operating in Syria. There are no plans to issue depleted uranium weapons to UK forces operating over Iraq.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British forces have been deployed on the ground in northern Iraq since 26 September 2014.

Mr Mark Francois: There are currently around 20 UK Armed Forces Personnel performing various non-combat roles in Northern Iraq. The majority of this number deployed before 26 September 2014.

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel were based in Northern Ireland in each year from 2010 to 2013.

Mr Mark Francois: The table details the number of UK Regular Forces stationed in Northern Ireland on 1 April in each year from 2010 to 2013. YearUK Regulars  OfficersOther RanksTotal of UK Regulars20103703,7704,14020113703,6404,01020123703,3703,74020132502,2802,5301) Due to the rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of their rounded parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. 2) UK Regular Forces includes all trained and untrained personnel. Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve personnel, and mobilised reservists are excluded.

Joint Exercises

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) assets and (b) personnel are taking part in Exercise Noble Justification.

Mr Mark Francois: In addition to Royal Navy personnel in NATO appointments who are participating, the Royal Navy has deployed HMS GRIMSBY and a submarine to the maritime component of Exercise NOBLE MARINER. This demonstrates the United Kingdom’s continued commitment to NATO exercises.

Baha Mousa Inquiry

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken in response to Recommendation 44 of the Gage Report into the death in custody of Baha Mousa.

Mr Mark Francois: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 March 2014, (Office Report,column 32WS),in which I explained that the Ministry of Defence have considered Sir William Gage’s recommendation but have not felt it necessary to modify further the existing inspection regime which already possesses the required levels of independence:"As envisaged in recommendation 44 of the Inquiry’s report, the Department has given careful consideration to the possibility of an independent inspection of the UK’s Afghan detention facilities by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons. However, UK detention facilities in Afghanistan continue to be inspected by the Provost Marshal (Army) every six months, and annually by the Army Inspector; they are also visited regularly by the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law. On balance, we believe that this triple inspection regime is already fit for purpose and does not require further amendment."



Hansard Extract 27 March 2014.
(Word Document, 25.5 KB)

Middle East

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterparts about the use by other forces of depleted uranium in Iraq or Syria.

Mr Mark Francois: The UK does not routinely discuss the specific operational use of conventional weapons with partners or allies; these are primarily a matter for the States concerned.

Armed Forces: Rehabilitation

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of staff are expected to be employed by Stanford Hall  Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre after 2018.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many jobs he forecasts will be affected by the closure of Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.

Anna Soubry: There are 169 military and 207 civilian Ministry of Defence posts at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court. It is expected that the manpower requirement for the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) will be approximately the same. It is expected that many Headley Court staff will relocate to the DNRC when it opens in 2018. However, it is too soon to say exactly how many will choose to do so.

DMRC Headley Court

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel have received treatment at Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in each year since 2001.

Anna Soubry: Data on the numbers of personnel treated at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court is only available from 2005 onwards. The following number of Service personnel from the UK, including Reservists, and other nations were treated at DMRC Headley Court between 1 January 2005 and 30 September 2014. YearNumber of PersonnelTotal number of personnel9,599Pre 200829320081,21820092,49120102,96820113,09020123,14120132,71920142,101 The total number of personnel does not match the sum of the yearly figures. This is because if an individual is treated in more than one year period, they are counted in each of those years, whereas they are counted only once in the total number of personnel. Further, where personnel have been treated for more than one injury, they have been counted only once.  The figures showing the number of appointments at DMRC prior to 1 September 2008 show the minimum number of people who were treated during that period. Personnel who were treated prior to 1 September 2008 whose departure date is not recorded are included only in the year of their arrival.

Afghanistan

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the tented camp used by HM Forces at Kandahar; and whether Agility and any other organisation involved in the disposal of the camp have been instructed to considered urgent humanitarian requirements for such a camp.

Mr Mark Francois: Agility operates on behalf of the Defence Disposal Services Authority and is charged with securing the best value for money for items that our redeployment process has determined should be disposed of in theatre. It is for Agility to make subsequent arrangements, in line with this objective.

Colombia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representatives of British armed forces and his Department travelled to Colombia during 2013 and 2014.

Mr Philip Dunne: Routine defence staff talks took place in 2014 and a Royal Navy ship visited Colombia in both 2013 and 2014. The UK has an ongoing programme of counter-narcotics assistance for Colombia. It would not be appropriate to provide details about this programme, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. In addition, a number of other Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence personnel travelled to Colombia during 2013 and 2014 in order to further the defence relationship. These visits focused on defence education; transformation of the Colombian defence organisation; human rights and humanitarian law and post conflict transition.

Colombia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any projects contained in the Memorandum of Understanding between his Department and the Colombian Ministry of Defence signed in January 2014 have been designed and executed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The purpose of the memorandum of understanding signed in January 2014 is to facilitate greater co-operation and joint training, in particular between the Colombian Navy and the Royal Navy, with co-operation in counter-narcotics as a primary intent. A number of activities have, since January 2014, been either implemented or completed including a visit to Cartagena by HMS Portland; and a Colombian Navy officer is currently a student at the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Iraq

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the rules of engagement are in the current Iraq conflict for (a) unmanned aerial vehicles and (b) manned aircraft involved in air strikes which include British nationals as targets.

Mr Mark Francois: Remotely Piloted Air Systems operate under the same rules of engagement as manned aircraft. However, I am withholding specific information on the Rules of Engagement which UK Armed Forces are applying in current operations against ISIL forces in Iraq as their disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice operational capability and the effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Veterans: Wales

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken since the Government response to the Second Report of Session 2012-13 from the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, Support for Armed Forces Veterans in Wales, to strengthen policies regarding after care services for veterans.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

RAF Kirton in Lindsey

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on consultants engaged on the disposal of the Kirton-in-Lindsey airbase.

Anna Soubry: The Department did not engage consultants to dispose of Kirton in Lindsey. The airbase was disposed of by the Ministry of Defence, working with a marketing agent, in accordance with standard disposal procedures. Details of the marketing agent's costs cannot be released as to do so could prejudice commercial interests.

Eastern Europe

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where his Department plans to station the four Typhoon jets assigned to Quick Reaction Alert in Eastern Europe.

Mr Mark Francois: The UK’s offer to contribute four RAF Typhoon aircraft to NATO’s standing Baltic Air Policing Mission in 2015 currently rests with NATO. Should our offer be accepted the final decision on their location is for NATO and will be determined by best military judgement.

West Africa

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to recover the costs of his Department's contribution to programmes against Ebola from the UK's international aid budget.

Mr Mark Francois: The Government's overwhelming priority is to ensure that the UK plays a leading role in providing the Government of Sierra Leone with the support it needs to tackle the Ebola crisis. The Department is working closely with the Department for International Development to identify and recover from the international aid budget, the net additional costs associated with the MOD's contribution to this vital commitment.

Gurkhas: Pensions

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the number of former Gurkhas who left service on or after 1 July 1997 and transferred to Armed Forces Pension Scheme who are receiving less benefit than if they had remained in the Gurkha Pension Scheme.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Veterans

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often his Department makes contact with former service personnel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and left the armed forces with life-changing injuries to inquire about their welfare.

Anna Soubry: The Government believes that the country owes a particular debt of gratitude to those Service personnel who suffer life-changing injuries.The Ministry of Defence therefore continues to improve the support that it offers to such personnel. In particular we now operate a Seriously Injured Leavers Protocol (SIL) which aims to ensure the identification of and ongoing support for, those Service leavers deemed likely to be medically discharged due to a severe physical or mental disablement.This identification is based upon defined major disabling medical criteria, whilst the support is organised through the closer working of MOD in-Service and post Service welfare groups. The MOD’s Veterans Welfare Service proactively intervenes for 24 months and then maintains contact as required but at least yearly on the anniversary of discharge. Full details of the SIL protocol are available at the following website: http://www.veterans-uk.info/welfare/protocol_new.html

Department for Work and Pensions

Blood: Contamination

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any savings an individual has accrued as a result of saving and investing lump-sum payments they have received from the Macfarlane and Eileen Trust, Macfarlane Trust, Eileen Trust or Skipton Fund are taken into account when deciding their eligibility for employment and support allowance and other welfare benefits; and whether the transfer of such savings to a dependant or partner, affects that dependant or partner's entitlement to benefits.

Mr Mark Harper: Payments received from Government funded Trusts and Funds may be disregarded for benefit purposes. This includes payments from the following Trusts/Funds: Macfarlane, Eileen Trust and Skipton Fund. Any capital resource which derives from a payment from these Trusts/Funds, such as interest, is also disregarded indefinitely. Money which derives from the Trusts/Funds which is transferred to a partner is disregarded indefinitely in any benefit claim made by the couple. It is also disregarded indefinitely in any claim made by the partner after the sufferer’s death providing that the couple were not estranged or divorced at the time of the death. However, money derived from the Trusts/Funds which is transferred to a dependent child or young person is not disregarded in any subsequent claim made in later life by that person.

Affordable Homes Bill

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the oral contribution by the Minister of State for Disabled People of 5 September 2014, Official Report, column 554, what the evidential basis is for his statement that the Affordable Homes Bill would cost about £1 billion of public expenditure.

Esther McVey: The calculation of the £1 billion cost of the Affordable Homes Bill was made on Thursday 4th September by Departmental Officials following an assessment of the potential effects of the provisions set out in the draft Bill at Second Reading. The potential cost was estimated using administrative data (Single Housing Benefit Extract) and the department’s policy simulation model.

Employment and Support Allowance: Disqualification

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review sanctions for employment and support allowance.

Esther McVey: As with all our policies, we will continue to keep the operation of the sanctions system under review to ensure that it continues to operate effectively and as fairly as possible. We also continue to make improvements as committed to in the Oakley Review.

Social Security Benefits: Automated Credit Transfer

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost is to the Government for each transaction for (a) pension payments and (b) benefit payments paid into a (i) Post Office card account, (ii) bank account and (iii) simple payment scheme.

Steve Webb: The cost to Government for making payments into a Post Office Card Account are £0.50, into a bank account £0.04497 and by Simple Payment £3.60. These costs are applicable to both pension and benefit payments.

Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of paying in-work benefits to non-UK citizens from (a) other EU countries and (b) the rest of the world in each of the last five years.

Esther McVey: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the approved July 2011 business case for universal credit referred to on page 32 of his Department's publication, Universal Credit at Work, published in October 2014, was approved by (a) the Major Projects Authority and (b) HM Treasury; and whether that business case was a strategic outline business case or a full business case.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asbestos

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many premises inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive visited as part of inspections of the licensed removal of asbestos in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were refused income-based jobseekers' allowance in 2013-14 as a result of their having more than £16,000 in personal savings.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Fund

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average wait for a decision on a social fund application was in each year since 2003.

Steve Webb: Table 1 below shows the average wait (in days) for decisions on a Social Fund application for each year from 2003 and a breakdown by application type. No data is provided for 2014. This is because the number of applications and waiting times vary seasonally, meaning that an average only covering part of the year is not comparable with whole year averages shown from 2003-2013. Average wait (days)Funeral PaymentsCommunity Care GrantsCrisis LoansBudgeting LoansSure Start Maternity Grants200313.18.31.22.74.7200413.58.21.33.04.0200512.17.51.42.94.0200612.59.11.53.23.9200713.410.91.64.54.8200814.311.31.85.15.3200914.813.32.05.35.0201015.38.92.15.44.7201113.17.52.15.04.3201214.67.53.04.93.6201317.1  5.54.0  Notes 1. These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. No average wait time is reported for Community Care Grants or Crisis Loans in 2013. This is because these payments were replaced by Local Welfare Provision in March 2013. 3. The clearance time for an individual Social Fund loan or grant is measured in whole working days from the date the application is received until the date the decision is taken. The minimum clearance time recorded for an individual case is one working day, even if the application is cleared immediately. 4. Cold Weather Payments are not included in Table 1. These are made automatically if the claimant is eligible at the time of the cold weather trigger, so there is no decision to be made. 5. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place.

Funeral Payments

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications were made to the Social Fund to cover the cost of funerals in each year since 2010; and how many of those applications were rejected.

Steve Webb: From the latest data available, 305,840 applications have been made for Funeral Payments in Great Britain between January 2010 and September 2014, the latest data available. In the same period there have been 151,620 refusals. Table 1 below shows the number of applications and refusals for each year. Note that 2014 data only extends to September thus far.  20102011201220132014 (Jan-Sep)Applications66,78070,99066,39062,20039,470Refusals33,35036,33034,54029,20018,190  Notes 1. These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. The figures given are the number of applications and initial refusals in the given time period and not the number of people who made applications or received awards. An individual may make more than one application in a year. Information on the number of people who made applications and received awards is not available..3. The refusal figures given are based on the initial decisions made on each case and may include cases where an award was later made on review. 4. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Pay

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff of her Department or its contractors who are responsible for drafting responses to Parliamentary Questions are paid below the rate of the London living wage.

Dan Rogerson: Answers to Parliamentary Questions are drafted by staff across the Department. Whilst core Defra has no direct employees paid less than the London Living Wage there are a small number of temporary staff from employment agencies who are paid less than the London Living Wage. Senior Civil Servants are responsible for providing final advice and draft responses to Ministers.

Animals: Exports

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the number of animals exported (a) to the EU and (b) to countries outside the EU in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: Exports of Live Animals (in thousand head) from the UK to other EU Countries, 2009 to 2014   (thousand head) Year Livestock Type200920102011201220132014Grand TotalPure bred breeding cattle00 0001Non-pure bred breeding cattle0 11308049Pure bred breeding pigs67410 19Non-pure bred breeding pigs  3   3Sheep7854876386105473Poultry <=185 grams21,86823,71018,19224,03115,1876,310109,299Poultry > 185 grams91580679642238532,283Horses, asses and mules22224114Goats  0   0Other animals128131015867Grand Total22,05824,36218,99224,78015,5376,478112,207Ó Crown Copyright   Source: HM Revenue and Customs  Data prepared by Trade Statistics, Analysis & Evidence Team, DEFRA   2014 data are subject to amendments  EU data based on EU 28   Please note these figures are obtained using VAT records and will exclude some EU trade  for businesses which are below the VAT threshold. As a result, actual trade levels  may be higher than those given.  The data are subject to a degree of statistical error. The overall level of   errors is low, but these errors have a much greater proportional effect on   countries with small values or volumes of trade. Therefore, care isneeded when interpreting the data.  Notation:   0 = quantity less than half the unit shown  Empty cells are nil values   Exports from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland make up a significant proportion of the liveexports to the EU, accounting for around 90% of live UK sheep exports to the EU and 40% of live UK poultry exports to the EU.Exports of Live Animals (in thousand head) from the UK to Non-EU Countries, 2009 to 2014   (thousand head) Year Livestock Type200920102011201220132014Grand TotalPure bred breeding cattle1 0 012Non-pure bred breeding cattle00001 1Pure bred breeding pigs21522012Non-pure bred breeding pigs0 010 1Sheep  010 1Poultry <=185 grams3,4837,0817,3337,0396,7213,96935,626Poultry > 185 grams001  01Horses, asses and mules35233117Goats0000 00Other animals51112212Grand Total3,4947,0887,3427,0476,7293,97435,673Ó Crown Copyright   Source: HM Revenue and Customs  Data prepared by Trade Statistics, Analysis & Evidence Team, DEFRA   2014 data are subject to amendments  The data are subject to a degree of statistical error. The overall level of   errors is low, but these errors have a much greater proportional effect on   countries with small values or volumes of trade. Therefore, care isneeded when interpreting the data.  Notation:   0 = quantity less than half the unit shown  Empty cells are nil values

Water Industry Act 1991

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2014 to Question 209943, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that contraventions of the Water Industry Act 1991 are being detected.

Dan Rogerson: The Drinking Water Inspectorate, Environment Agency and Ofwat (Water Services Regulation Authority) are responsible for ensuring that contraventions of the Water Industry Act 1991 are detected. In discharging their functions they undertake inspections, check compliance, review plans and reports, investigate incidents and act upon their findings. Each organisation publishes details annually of the action they have taken.Further to their powers within the Water Industry Act 1991 the Environment Agency and Ofwat are Prescribed Persons on The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 (SI No. 2418) with regard to whistle blowing.

Japanese Knotweed

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what current legislative proposals there are for the better control of Japanese knotweed.

Dan Rogerson: Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 and subject to Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to plant this species in the wild or cause it to grow in the wild.Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 provides local authorities with a discretionary power to require the landowner to clean up 'land adversely affecting the amenity of the neighbourhood’. Local authorities also have the power to undertake clean-up works themselves under Section 215 and to recover costs from the landowner. However, the decision whether to take action in individual cases is a matter for the local authority concerned, which will need to take into account all the local circumstances.Since 20 October, local councils and police have the power to issue Community Protection Notices (CPNs) under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. CPNs can be used against individuals or businesses who are acting unreasonably and who persistently or continually act in a way that has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. If this test is met then a written warning should be given. If this warning fails to stop the anti-social behaviour then a CPN may be issued. This will require an individual or business to stop the anti-social behaviour identified in the notice, for example to control or prevent the growth of Japanese knotweed or any other invasive species. A breach of a CPN is a criminal offence.

Japanese Knotweed

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the property and mortgage industries regarding the impact of Japanese knotweed on property values.

Dan Rogerson: The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the property and mortgage industries regarding the impact of Japanese Knotweed on property values.The Government does not intervene directly in such matters as it is the right of mortgage lenders to choose to whom they lend money and what conditions should apply to any agreement, which could include the seller having to provide insurance.An information paper was published in 2011 by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors to encourage mortgage lenders to view Japanese knotweed as just one of the many factors that may affect property value. It advocates that mortgage lenders draw up knotweed management plans with the buyer and, where possible, owners of affected neighbouring properties.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to extend badger culling beyond the pilots in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

George Eustice: Once the results of this year’s culls have been fully quality assured and assessed, they will help to inform the decision on whether or not to extend culling into additional areas.

Solar Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the area of land occupied by solar panel arrays that was arable land useable for economically farmed fruits or vegetables.

George Eustice: We have made no estimate of the amount of land occupied by solar panels which was arable land useable for economically farmed fruits or vegetables.

Solar Power

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release of 19 October 2014, on the reduction of subsidies for solar farms to safeguard farmland, what estimate she has made of the potential annual change in mW of solar-generated energy as a result of that policy.

George Eustice: The decision to make land covered by solar panels ineligible for the CAP Basic Payment Scheme reflects the fact that agriculture is no longer the predominant use of such land. The Government wants farmers to prioritise making the best use of their land for agriculture and food production. However, we have made no estimate of the potential annual reduction in generating capacity.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Solar Power: Suffolk

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department spent in legal fees during the judicial review brought against his Department on the solar farm at Ellough Airfield, Suffolk.

Kris Hopkins: Planning casework is a quasi-judicial function of the department, and as was the case under the last Administration, it attracts a high volume of legal challenges. This is particularly the case in light of the long-term growth of both judicial review and the growing creep of European Union directives, regulations and case law.   Yet to place the Department’s spending in context, I would observe that the Department spent £1.7 million in external lawyers’ fees in 2009-10 (excluding Treasury Solicitors), in 2013-14, the figure had fallen to £699,000.   The proposed application for a sizeable solar farm development in Suffolk was refused by Waveney District Council. That decision was appealed by the developer, was recovered for Ministerial decision, and that appeal was refused by the Secretary of State. The decision letter outlines the reasons, but particular issues included the effect upon the character and appearance of the countryside.   The appellant, Lark Energy, challenged the decision in the High Court; four of the five grounds of challenge were rejected by the Court. The challenge however succeeded on just one ground – a technical point of law on the application of the statutory test for appeals under the relevant planning legislation. The Department spent £6,596 (ex VAT) in defending this challenge. The appeal is now back with the Department for re-determination.   Equally, I would observe that a week later, the High Court upheld the decision of the Secretary of State in a recovered appeal to refuse a proposed six turbine wind farm on the Somerset Levels, following its initial refusal by Sedgemoor District Council. The applicants, Ecotricity, were ordered to pay the Department’s costs (which may be in the region of £9,000).   All decisions on recovered appeals are taken by the Secretary of State on their merits, following due process and after careful consideration of both the public inquiry evidence and the independent Inspector’s recommendation.

Waste Disposal: Lancashire

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the removal of recycling credits by Lancashire County Council on weekly waste collections in that county.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the financial effect on Ribble Valley Borough Council of the withdrawal of recycling credits by Lancashire County Council.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will provide support to district councils in Lancashire from which recycling credits have been withdrawn by Lancashire County Council.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the provision of recycling credits by county councils to district councils.

Kris Hopkins: GuidanceRecycling credits is a policy issue for which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has the lead. DEFRA previously published guidance on the Recycling Credits Scheme in 2006 and this can be found at:http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/partnerwork/documents/recyclingcreditscheme-guidance.pdfThe guidance and legislation are clear that, further to Section 52 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste disposal authorities (the county council) have a legal duty to pay waste disposal credits to a waste collection authority (the borough council) in their area when the waste collection authority diverts waste from the household waste stream for recycling. This duty is waived only if the waste collection authority has agreed that such payments need not be made by the waste disposal authority.Recycling creditsI understand the recycling credits system has worked well in Ribble Valley. It has encouraged the borough to improve recycling rates while retaining weekly collections of residual waste. Ribble Valley’s recycling collection is beneficial for Lancashire County Council as (i) the waste does not therefore go to landfill and incur landfill tax; and (ii) it receives the value of the recycled materials.My Department does not collect data on or estimate the financial effect on councils as a result of the withdrawal of recycling credits. However, we have been made aware that the financial effect of the withdrawal of recycling credits by Lancashire County Council in Ribble Valley will be considerable.It is unacceptable if Lancashire County Council is trying to force Ribble Valley to end its weekly bin collection due to the withdrawal of recycling credits. It should find a way of agreeing a fair financial deal which is acceptable to Ribble Valley and also maintains a weekly collection.It is a myth that weekly bin collection and high levels of recycling cannot go hand in hand, as we have made clear in our practice guidance on weekly collections supported in January 2014, based on the evidence and best practice learnt from the Weekly Collections Support Scheme.FundingIt does seem perverse and unfair that the cost of recycling should fall completely on Ribble Valley Borough Council when, based upon its efforts, Lancashire County Council avoids the costs of disposal to landfill and is able to sell the recyclate material.There are no plans for my Department to provide special financial support to district councils in Lancashire, as this change stems from actions of the county council, not the Government. However, we would strongly recommend that Ribble Valley take its own legal advice on this matter, given the County Council may potentially be in breach of its legal duties under the 1990 Act.More broadly, my Department has offered other means of support to councils from the Weekly Collection Support Scheme and in November 2012, Ribble Valley District Council was awarded £750,000 from the Scheme to introduce new fortnightly mixed food and garden waste collections and support weekly residual waste collections.

Local Government: Debts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average debt level per capita is of local authorities in (a) England and (b) the North West; and what the level of debt per capita is in Warrington Borough Council.

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the rt.hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East (Mr Nicholas Brown) on 14 July 2014, Official Report, Column 532W. My Department does not publish regional statistics.

Parish Councils: Publications

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many complaints his Department has received in the last five years of town and parish councils breaching their statutory responsibility to publish minutes; and which such councils have been the subject of the most complaints.

Kris Hopkins: My Department receives correspondence on a wide range of issues about Parish Councils. Complaints or concerns regarding a parish council’s behaviour can be made in a number of ways; by utilising the parish council’s complaints procedure, raising the matter at a parish meeting, pointing out concerns during the public inspection period of accounts for the audit, or by joining with a group of local electors to call for a parish poll on the issue. It is for the parish council concerned to consider the evidence raised in any of the above public representation and to take action inline with statute and their standing orders/complaints procedures. In addition, parish councils, like all tiers of government, must act within the law at all times, if a decision is considered unlawful, it may be challenged by the courts. Ultimately, if a council fails to carry out its statutory duties it will be accountable for its actions and decisions through the ballot box.Our proposed Transparency Code for parish councils and smaller authorities seeks to increase the openness and accessibility of council papers and minutes by making them accessible online.

Voluntary Work: Religion

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an assessment of the progress of his Department's Together in Service scheme.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of regional variations in participation in his Department's Together in Service scheme.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funds have been made available to organisations under his Department's Together in Service scheme.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what budget his Department has allocated to its Together in Service scheme.

Stephen Williams: Twenty-five projects have been approved so far, in Barking and Dagenham, Birmingham, Bradford, Brent, Cambridge, Cornwall (mainly Truro), Coventry, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Epping Forest, Leicester, Lambeth, Liverpool, Newcastle, Newham, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Redbridge, Sheffield and Southampton. In addition, two projects cover activity in more than one geographic location. A total of £74,000 has been allocated to these projects. 18 projects, totalling £42,000, are awaiting financial approval from the Department. In addition, there are further projects in the pipeline. Faith Action, the body contracted to run the Together in Service programme, will publish a full assessment after the scheme comes to an end on 31 March 2015. By the end of the programme, my Department will have allocated £200,000 in match-funding for Together in Service projects.

Shared Ownership Schemes

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that part-owners do not face above-inflation increases to service charges under shared ownership schemes.

Brandon Lewis: Shared owners have a full repairing lease and are financially responsible for all maintenance charges and outgoings, in the same way as any other leaseholder or homeowner.The Government has no power to intervene in how housing associations, which are private, non-profit making organisations, carry out their maintenance or repair works. However, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires that service charges are only payable where the costs incurred are reasonable.Where they believe that the service charges they are being asked to pay are unreasonable, leaseholders - including those who have purchased under a shared ownership scheme - have a number of statutory rights and protections in respect of those service charges, and the management of their property. These include:- The right to apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to determine the liability to pay and reasonableness of service charges.- The right to write to their landlord to request a written summary of the costs which make up the service charges, and to require the landlord to provide reasonable facilities to inspect the accounts, receipts and other documents supporting the summary.- Where new or extended services are introduced and where an additional charge may need to be made, landlords are expected to consult appropriately with tenants before introducing these services and associated charges.Free initial advice and information on leaseholders' rights can be obtained from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). This is a specialist body, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, to provide initial advice and information on a wide range of residential leasehold issues.

Mortgages: Woking

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) house buyers and (b) first-time buyers have been supported under the Government's Help to Buy scheme in Woking constituency.

Brandon Lewis: This Government is committed to supporting people’s aspirations to own their own home. Over 50,000 households have been supported by the Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee and Equity Loan schemes and around 80% of these are first-time buyers. The Department does not collect data on the number of first time buyers supported by Help to Buy: NewBuy. The Department does not publish data on the number of first-time buyers supported by the Help to Buy schemes at local authority or constituency level. Data at constituency level is only available for the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme. Statistics on the number of Help to Buy sales at local authority and postcode level are published in the Open Data Communities portal for Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee and Help to Buy: Equity Loan, which are available at the following link:http://opendatacommunities.org/def/concept/folders/themes/housing-market Statistics on Help to Buy: NewBuy sales at local authority level are published on the Department’s website, which are available at the following link:http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/help-to-buy-equity-loan-and-newbuy-statistics The table below breaks down the total Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee and Equity Loan sales in Woking and Guildford local authority areas:  Mortgage Guarantee(to 30 June 2014)Equity Loan(to 31 August 2014)NewBuy(to 30 June 2014)TOTALWoking278119127Guildford320133

Social Rented Housing

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what was spent on the Decent Homes Programme in each year since 2005.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Rented Housing

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many homes in (a) Bethnal Green and Bow constituency, (b) the borough of Tower Hamlets, (c) London and (d) England failed to meet the decent homes standard in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wales Office

Mobile Phones

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on partial not-spots and the use of passive infrastructure sharing in those areas.

Alun Cairns: The Wales Office has regular discussions with Ofcom about improving mobile coverage across Wales. The UK Government is considering a number of options for improving coverage in partial not-spot areas, including passive infrastructure sharing and national roaming.

HM Treasury

Taxation

John Mann: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what HM Revenue and Customs' policy is on recovering tax on benefits in kind received by former employees of a corporation for whom legal fees have been met by that corporation.

Mr David Gauke: Where legal fees are paid by an employer on behalf of a former employee and are taxable, I can confirm that H M Revenue and Customs ensures that income tax and national insurance contributions is paid.

Tobacco: Smuggling

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue loss has been prevented as a result of all initatives to reduce trade in and import of illicit tobacco since 2010-11; and what operational target was set for this spending review period.

Priti Patel: I refer the hon member to the answer that I gave on 23 September 2014. http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-09-09/208670

Rent a Room Scheme

Mr Andrew Love: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual cost was of providing the rent-a-room tax scheme for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have published information on estimates of the cost of the relief. For the year 2009-10, HMRC estimated the relief cost £120 million. For the years 2010-11 through to 2013-14 HMRC estimate the cost of the relief to be £90 million per annum.   These figures are particularly tentative and subject to a wide margin of error.

Tax Allowances

Jonathan Edwards: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total accumulative tax relief claimed by each tax band was in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: Information is provided in Table 3.5 ‘Income and deductions’ that is available on the HMRC website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/deductions-and-reliefs-2010-to-2011

National Insurance Contributions

Adam Afriyie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to simplify the rates of employees' National Insurance contributions.

Mr David Gauke: This Government is committed to a competitive tax regime and has introduced a range of measures to reduce the burden of National Insurance Contributions (NICs), as part of our long term economic plan to back business and create jobs.   The Employment Allowance, introduced in April this year, means that around 450,000 employers– one third of all employers – are expected to be taken out of paying employer NICs altogether in 2014-15 and from April 2015, employer NICs for under 21 year olds will be abolished, helping to support jobs for almost 1.5 million young people currently in employment.

Income Tax

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate how many people would not be paying income tax and national insurance contributions if the threshold for both were equalised at the higher rate of the two.

Mr David Gauke: Increasing the National insurance Contribution Primary threshold for employees and Lower Profits Limit for self employed to £10,000 in 2014-15, in order to match the personal allowance, would take an estimated 1.5m people out of paying NICs.   These estimates are based on the 2011-12 Survey of Personal Incomes projected forward to 2014-15 using economic assumptions consistent with the OBR’s March 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.

Highways Agency

Richard Burden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy that the Highways Agency, following its transfer from being a civil service agency to a government-owned company will be liable to pay (a) corporation tax and (b) additional payments of VAT.

Mr David Gauke: I refer the Honorable Gentleman to my earlier replies about VAT [DN: please insert correct reference]. Special provisions apply to Government Departments and health authorities that refunds VAT incurred on certain non-business activities. These are set out in section 41(3) of the VAT Act 1994.   New bodies are not automatically covered by the above provisions. However, the Department for Transport and HM Treasury are considering this issue. Government departments are exempt from Corporation Tax, while Non-  Departmental Public Bodies (which the Highways agency will become) are subject to Corporation Tax on any trading and investment income and on any capital gains.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the overall cost to the consumer in 2014 prices of the contract for difference for Hinkley Point C over its 35 year lifetime.

Matthew Hancock: We have not made an estimate of the overall cost to the consumer in 2014 prices as the CPI index for the full year is not yet available.

Northern Ireland Office

Parades

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on the new Parading Panel; and when this panel will begin work.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My discussions about the establishment of a Panel on Parading in the Twaddell/Ardoyne area of North Belfast are ongoing. I have recently written to the Executive parties seeking their thoughts on possible panel membership and am awaiting responses.I would urge political parties and others with an involvement in the dispute to engage constructively with this process.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Broadband: Rural Areas

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to encourage competition in the rural broadband market.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Almost 100 publicly funded contracts to provide superfast broadband to rural communities have gone out to tender following an Open Market Review. As well as BT a number of smaller suppliers are now delivering projects in rural communities. In addition, 8 suppliers have been appointed to run pilot projects to assess the feasibility of providing superfast broadband to the hardest to reach areas.

Direct Selling

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to tackle nuisance telephone calls; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Tackling nuisance telephone calls is a priority for the Department. A range of options for reform are being pursued, which includes both legislative and non-legislative measures that will protect consumers more effectively. Our Nuisance Calls Action Plan of 30 March 2014, included proposals to enable the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to share information more easily with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about companies who may be breaching the regulations. We made this measure effective on 15 July 2014 and it will help ICO to take enforcement action against companies deliberately breaching the rules. We are also soon to consult to lower the legal threshold, making it easier for ICO to take more enforcement action, including issuing monetary penalties to companies who currently manage to avoid having action taken against them. Work on improving the ability of communication service providers to trace calls is underway and led by Ofcom, with our encouragement. Consent and lead generation issues including how telephone numbers are captured and sold on, are also being considered by the Taskforce led by Which? that will report to the Department by the end of this year. Further details about the full range of measures outlined in our Action Plan can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nuisance-calls-action-plan-unveiled Steps taken to date include the Department having improved signposting and information about whom to contact when needing to report nuisance calls, a simpler complaints process, and greater use by regulators of their powers, including the ICO and Ofcom having to date issued monetary penalties totalling more than £2.2 million for nuisance telephone calls and SMS text messages. We will continue to work with regulators, consumer group representatives and the industry to deliver improved protection for the benefit of consumers.

Arts: Finance

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what oversight he has of the allocation of the Arts Council England's funding to other organisations.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Funding decisions are made by Arts Council England, without Government input. Ministers establish the strategic priorities for ACE’s spending in each Spending Round and regularly meet with Arts Council England.

Mobile Phones

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the merits of passive infrastructure sharing in partial not-spots; and what information he has on the changes that would be required to the upgrade and sharing elements of the electronic communications code to enable this.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government is committed to improving mobile coverage for all consumers, and is currently in discussions with Ofcom and relevant Mobile Network Operators. We have been looking at a number of options for improving coverage in partial not-spot areas, including passive infrastructure sharing and national roaming. We are also considering the impact of reforms to the Electronic Communications Code, in the broader context of supporting communications infrastructure in an effort to improve mobile network coverage. The Government is aware that reforms will need to balance the interests of all stakeholders involved. The Secretary of State is considering his position on Code reform and will outline plans shortly. The Government is committed to ensuring the UK has world-class mobile coverage.

Football

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who he consulted about the membership of the expert working group on links between supporters and professional football clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who he consulted on the inclusion of consumer issues in the terms of reference of the expert working group on links between supporters and professional football clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the expert working group on links between supporters and professional football clubs will meet for the first time; how frequently that group will meet; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received on the membership and terms of reference of the expert working group on links between supporters and professional clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the expert working group on links between supporters and professional clubs will report its findings; what deadline he has set for that report; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant: The recently launched expert group will explore the areas of supporter ownership and engagement. The group was developed in partnership with Supporters Direct- whose mission is to increase the influence of supporters through ownership and involvement in their clubs - and with the support of football authorities. Relevant experts and stakeholders will be called upon to contribute to the discussion of the group’s agreed priorities.The chair and the FA will convene the first meeting, where the Terms of Reference, including agreed priorities and the schedule of meetings and reports, will be approved.

Rugby: World Cup

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department is providing to support the hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant: The DCMS has provided the Rugby Football Union with an underwrite of up to £25m of the tournament fee. The DCMS is also working with other Government Departments, Arm’s Length Bodies and England 2015, the tournament organisers, to deliver a series of guarantees in areas such as visas, customs, security and anti-doping. Additionally, the DCMS, Visit England and the FCO are supporting the William Webb Ellis Trophy International Tour and we will continue to support the domestic legs of the tour when it returns to the UK to mark 100 days to go.

Horse Racing: Betting

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate he has made of the net annual financial benefit to British racing of extending the Horserace Betting Levy to overseas operators; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant: Offshore remote betting operations have not hitherto been licensed by the Gambling Commission. This means there is currently no centrally collected and publicly available comprehensive dataset of offshore remote operator profits on which to base an estimate. This will change once the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act comes into force on 1 November. We expect the Gambling Commission will be including data from remote offshore operators in their Industry Statistics from 2015. In the Government’s recent consultation Extending the Horserace Betting Levy, we noted that any estimates of potential additional yield extrapolated from published information such as some company accounts would necessarily be “best guesses” and could only be indicative, not least because the remote gambling market is growing very quickly. We said that the range of “best guesses” ran from £10m to £30m p.a. and sought estimates of potential additional levy yield from respondents assuming the rate of collection remained at 10.75%. Such estimates as were received in consultation responses generally fell within that bracket. The government will be publishing its response to the consultation in due course.

Overseas Visitors: China

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many Chinese nationals visited the UK on tourist visas in 2010.

Mrs Helen Grant: Tourists to the UK travel on a visit visa. In 2010, according to the International Passenger Survey, 111,100 visits were made by people who reported their nationality as Chinese.

Overseas Visitors: China

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Chinese overseas tourists visited the UK in each year since 2010.

Mrs Helen Grant: The table shows the proportion of Chinese overseas tourists that visited the UK since 2010 according to the International Passenger Survey and Tourism Economics:  2010201120122013Visits by residents of mainland China109,500148,500178,700196,000Visits who report their nationality as Chinese111,100144,700170,100201,900Share of outbound from China that is to the UK0.3%0.4%0.4%0.3%

Tourism

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he last met the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to discuss tourism.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he last met the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss tourism.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he last met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss tourism.

Mrs Helen Grant: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and myself routinely meet with Ministerial colleagues to discuss a range of matters.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons Commission

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what funding was (a) allocated to the Commission in 2010 and (b) will be so allocated in 2015.

John Thurso: The House of Commons Commission initially committed itself to a reduction in the Administration Resource Estimate in December 2009. The following year this was restated as an intention to reduce the Estimate to £210 million by 2014/15 from a baseline of £231 million for 2010/11.(a) Taking forecast inflation into account, this represented a reduction of 17% in real terms. In December 2013 the Commission agreed an Administration Estimate for 2014/15 of £201.3 million – allowing for transfers between Estimates and other adjustments, this was £2 million below the target set in 2010.The Finance and Services Committee will, on Tuesday 28 October, be publishing its first report of the session, entitled House of Commons Financial Plan 2015–16 to 2018–19, including draft Estimates for 2015–16 (HC 757), which provides further detail. I shall be approaching the Backbench Business Committee to request a debate on the report before the Committee gives its advice on the 2015/16 Estimate to the Commission in December. This would give all hon. Members a chance to discuss and contribute to the financial plan.Note: (a) In December 2009 the Commission agreed an Estimate for 2010/11 of £258 million. However, having taken account of the transfer of staff to IPSA and various accounting adjustments, this was reduced to £231 million. Agreement of an initial, in-year savings package by the Commission in June 2010 meant that it actually laid an Estimate for 2010/11 of £219 million.

Department of Health

Motor Neurone Disease

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of augmentative and alternative communication aids for sufferers of motor neurone disease in (a) Surrey and Sussex and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Since April 1 2013 NHS England has been responsible for commissioning Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) aids for patients with complex disability whose needs require specialised assessment, including for patients with motor neurone disease (MND). Commissioning of non-specialised AAC aids is the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups.   NHS England has published a service specification for specialised AAC aids that sets out what should be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services and supports equity of access to a nationally consistent, high quality service for patients across the country including in Surrey and Sussex. The specification can be found at:   www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d01-com-dis-equ-alt-aug-comm-aids.pdf NHS England has identified an additional £22.5 million funding for AAC and Environmental Controls in 2014-15. They have been working closely with the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) to ensure this funding is equitably distributed across England in a fair and consistent manner. The MNDA are representing all patients on the panel which is reviewing this funding allocation.

General Practitioners: Woking

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of GP appointments in Woking constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The vast majority of patients can get appointments and are satisfied with their general practitioner (GP) but we know more needs to be done. This is why we are offering 7.5 million more people extra evening and weekend appointments as well as email and Skype consultations.   We also understand that a recent small survey by Healthwatch highlighted Woking as an area where there was a potential issue with booking and arranging appointments which are convenient to patients. Following this, we are advised that Surrey and Sussex Area Team agreed to meet with the Health and Adult Social Care Committee and Healthwatch to set up a working group to look at areas which could be improved with regard to access to GP services.

Medical Equipment: West Midlands

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure the routine commissioning of cough assist machines in the West Midlands.

Jane Ellison: Since 1 April 2013, NHS England has been responsible for commissioning specialised neurological services, which includes services for patients with neuromuscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophy. NHS England has published a neurosciences specification, which sets out what providers must have in place to offer high quality care and treatment for patients.   The neurosciences service specification describes when patients should be referred to specialist respiratory services and the circumstances in which cough assist devices should be considered. It is available from the NHS England website at this link:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d04-neurosci-spec-neuro.pdf.   A copy of this document has also been attached.   The equipment and respiratory support of cough assist is the commissioning responsibility of clinical commissioning groups, delivered through local specialist respiratory services, according to any local clinical commissioning policy they may have in place. 



Neurosciences service specification
(PDF Document, 326.66 KB)

Perinatal Mortality: South East

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce the rate of stillbirths in Surrey and Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: We have made reducing stillbirth an improvement area for the National Health Service in the NHS Outcomes Framework.   We are advised by NHS England that NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Surrey have collectively done significant work relating to perinatal mortality rates, which includes stillbirths. An independent review by the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health in 2013 determined that Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (ASPH) was not an outlier with respect to stillbirths. The North West Surrey and Guildford and Waverley CCGs continue to work with ASPH on maternity and paediatric pathways.

Blood Diseases

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Haemophilia Society, (b) the Manor House Group, (c) Tainted Blood, (d) the Hepatitis C Trust and (e) the Contaminated Blood campaign in the last two years.

Jane Ellison: In the last two years, the Department has met with the Haemophilia Society about haemophilia services, grant funding for the Society and support for haemophiliacs infected or affected by HIV and/or hepatitis C through historic treatment with NHS-supplied blood products.   The Department has met with the Hepatitis C Trust about hepatitis C services, grant funding for the Trust and support for individuals infected or affected by hepatitis C through historic treatment with NHS-supplied blood or blood products.   The Department has met with representatives of the Manor House Group, Tainted Blood and the Contaminated Blood Campaign about support for individuals infected or affected by HIV and/or hepatitis C through historic treatment with NHS-supplied blood or blood products, the scientific and clinical evidence for hepatitis C, and haemophilia services.

Written Questions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's latest internal guidance for officials on the drafting of answers to parliamentary questions.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department’s most recent internal guidance dated October 2013 is attached. This guidance is subject to revision following the introduction of the Written Questions and Answers website.   The Office of the Leader of the House provides guidance to all departments on the practice of answering Parliamentary Questions.   The full guide is available on the gov.uk website at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work   A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library. The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons intends to review the Guide to Parliamentary Work in the coming months. 



Parliamentary Questions- Guidance
(Word Document, 125 KB)

Hepatitis

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) first-stage payments and (b) second-stage payments have been made from the Skipton Fund to the estates of individuals who contracted hepatitis C following NHS treatment with blood products between 1970 and 1995 but who died before 29 August 2003; what the total amount of money paid out to these estates was; how many total applications for lump sum payments were made by the families and dependants of these victims from 10 January to the end of March 2011; how many applications were refused on the basis that they came in too late; whether his Department has received any representations from (i) the families of victims, (ii) campaign groups and (iii) the Skipton Fund or Caxton Foundation about the time available to apply.

Jane Ellison: The following table sets out the number of payments and total paid out by Skipton Fund Ltd to the estates of individuals who contracted hepatitis C through treatment with NHS supplied blood or blood products prior to 1991 and who died prior to 29 August 2003.(a) Stage 1(b) Of whom have also received Stage 2*Number of paymentsTotal cost (£)Number of paymentsTotal cost (£)For all individuals4729,440,000.0025812,900,000.00Comprising individuals with a bleeding disorder treated with plasma derived products4418,820,000.0023611,800,000.00And individuals treated with a whole blood transfusion31620,000.00221,100,000.00 *Stage 2 payment is made for individuals who received a stage 1 payment and progressed to more severe hepatitis C related disease.   There were 81 such applications before 31 March 2011. However, the deadline initially set of 31 March 2011 was for registrations with the Skipton Fund and not completed applications. No applications have been refused to date for missing the deadline.   The Department received representations from campaign groups and families of deceased individuals in relation to the deadline, and worked with the Skipton Fund in 2011 to agree that any late registrations would be processed, provided the individual registering had good reason for the late registration.

Blood: Contamination

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether benefits an individual receives are taken into account when deciding an individual's eligibility for discretionary financial payments from the (a) Caxton Foundation, (b) Macfarlane Trust and (c) Eileen Trust.

Jane Ellison: When deciding an individual's eligibility for discretionary financial payments, the Caxton Foundation, Macfarlane Trust and Eileen Trust, all take benefits into account as part of overall household income.

Hepatitis

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the basis is for the distinction between Stage 1 and Stage 2 of hepatitis C virus which determines the amount of support sufferers of the condition who contracted the virus following NHS treatment with blood products are entitled to; and what medical and expert advice his Department sought before establishing this distinction.

Jane Ellison: The decision that there should be a two-stage ex-gratia payment system was taken when the scheme was first established in 2003-04. An initial ‘stage 1’ lump sum payment was made in respect of chronic infection with hepatitis C, with a second ‘stage 2’ lump sum payment when people reached a more advanced stage of illness. The Department sought the advice of an independent group of experts regarding a medical trigger for the higher payment that could reliably be diagnosed with non-invasive tests that were available nationwide. The advice received was that the second lump sum payment should be triggered following a diagnosis of cirrhosis or liver cancer, or if a person had received a liver transplant.   In addition, as a result of the 2010 expert review, a further condition was added to those conditions that triggered eligibility for the second stage payment, namely hepatitis C-associated B-cell non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Babies: Screening

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost would be of immediately screening all newborn babies for MCAD deficiency.

Dr Daniel Poulter: This information is not held centrally. All newborn babies are screened currently for four serious but rare conditions, including Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD). This is part of the postnatal pathway and is paid for as part of the Maternity Pathway Payment (MPP). The cost for screening MCADD is not identified separately within the MPP.   The NHS Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme in England routinely offers newborn screening for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis and MCADD. Newborn screening in England is offered between 5 and 8 days after the baby is born. The midwife takes a small sample of blood droplets from the baby’s heel for testing on a blood spot card.   With early detection further diagnostic testing and early treatment can then be provided and avoid any unnecessary wait and help improve and prevent severe disability.   The UK National Screening Committee have recommended extending the newborn bloodspot screening programme in 2015 to include screening for maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, glutaric acidaemia type 1 and isovaleric acidaemia.

Strokes: Children

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the NHS has made of a potential connection between chicken pox and stroke in children.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department has made no assessment of the link between chicken pox and stroke in children; research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and University College London in 2013, suggested that children who experience chickenpox are at a four‐fold increased risk of ischaemic stroke in the subsequent six months, although the study recognised that this was still only a small absolute stroke risk, due to the low baseline incidence of paediatric stroke. Research by the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, funded by the National Institute for Health Research and the Stroke Association has identified that a patient’s risk of stroke significantly increased following shingles.

Hospitals: Parking

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that hospitals follow the updated guidelines on hospital car parking charges.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what sanctions he intends to impose against hospitals found not to be complying with the updated guidance on hospital car parking fees.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department of Health published new National Health Service patient, visitor and staff car parking principles on 23 August 2014. These principles, widely welcomed by a range of charities and organisations representing patients’ interests, made it clear that NHS trusts should publish:   - their parking policy; - their implementation of the NHS car parking principles; - financial information relating to their car parking arrangements; and - summarised complaint information on car parking and actions taken in response.   In line with our policy of making all key information transparently available to patients, our expectation is that this information will be displayed prominently on trust websites so that patients and the public can hold the NHS locally to account where unfair parking charges and practices remain in place.   In addition, we will be collecting information about NHS compliance with these principles via the next round of the Patient Led Assessments of the Care Environment data collection and the results will be published so that patients can identify those trusts who are falling short.

Hepatitis

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) first-stage payments and (b) second-stage payments have been made from the Skipton Fund to the estates of individuals who contracted Hepatitis C following NHS treatment with blood products between 1970 and 1995 but who died after 29 August 2003.

Jane Ellison: The following table sets out the number of Stage 1 and Stage 2 payments made to the estates of individuals infected with hepatitis C through treatment with National Health Service supplied blood or blood products and who died after 29 August 2003 and before the relevant payment was made.Stage 1Stage 2Total number of individuals138186Comprising individuals with a bleeding disorder treated with plasma derived products4677And individuals treated with a whole blood transfusion92109 Notes: The Stage 2 payment is made for individuals who received a stage 1 payment and progressed to more severe hepatitis C related disease.   The number of Stage 2 payments to estates is greater than the number of Stage 1 payments to estates as some individuals who were alive on receipt of their Stage 1 payment (and so are not included in the stage 1 column in the table above) died before their Stage 2 payment was made.

Blood Diseases

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Haemophilia Alliance has made in revising the National Service Specification for bleeding disorders.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has published the service specification for haemophilia services in England which was developed by and is regularly reviewed by the Haemophilia Clinical Reference Group (CRG). The CRG is also engaged in policy development with NHS England.

Blood: Contamination

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make provisions for counselling for those who contracted HIV and hepatitis C following treatment with NHS-supplied blood products and their families and dependants beyond the 2013-14 financial year.

Jane Ellison: In 2011, the Department set up a dedicated counselling service for people in England who were infected with HIV and hepatitis C infection as a result of treatment with NHS-supplied blood and blood products, and their families. The service has been extended to April 2016.

Haemophilia Society

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to continue payments of £100,000 annually to the Haemophilia Society beyond 2014-15.

Jane Ellison: The Haemophilia Society is not currently in receipt of a grant from the Department. The final payment of £100,000 of the Haemophilia Society’s previous grant was made in the 2013-14 financial year.

Blood Diseases

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the outcome was of the look-back exercise co-ordinated by the Haemophilia Alliance to identify patients with bleeding disorders previously undiagnosed with blood-related infections.

Jane Ellison: The look-back exercise was conducted by the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation (UKHCDO). Results will be published later this year in the UKHCDO 2013 annual report.

Care Homes

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the reasons were for changes contained in the proposed new regulations for care homes before parliament to remove the provisions in the current regulations that (a) the care provider must bring the complaints procedure to the attention of residents as in current Regulation 19(1)(2), (b) the provider must plan for and have emergency procedures in place as in current Regulation 9(2) and (c) providers must give residents a choice of food as in current Regulation 14(2).

Norman Lamb: The draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 that are currently before Parliament will put in place new requirements for registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and will include fundamental standards as recommended by the Inquiry in to Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust Hospital.   The new regulations clarify the requirements providers must meet, and improve the CQC’s ability to bring prosecutions for serious breaches that result in harm or a serious risk of harm to service users.   While the wording of the regulations has changed, it will still be possible for the CQC to take action against a provider who did not have an accessible complaints procedure, and against a provider who had no plans in place to deal with emergencies such civic emergencies and floods. The new regulations also require that a person’s nutritional needs must be met, and that a person’s preferences must be taken in to account, and met where possible.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where the unpublished, confidential evidence referred to in the updated Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority report, Third scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception will be published.

Jane Ellison: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have advised that, by examining both published and unpublished research, the Expert Panel is able to take into account the very latest research on a confidential basis.   Where the evidence is provided on a confidential basis, in time, that work will be published in peer reviewed journals. For example, some pieces of confidential evidence reviewed as part of the third scientific review have now been published in this way. These are:   - Mitalipov, S. et al (2014). Limitations of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Mitochondrial DNA Diseases. Cell Reports 7(4);935-937   - Chinnery PF. et al (2014) The challenges of mitochondrial replacement. PLoS Genet. 2014 24;10(4):e1004315

Blood: Contamination

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2012 to Question 129961, how many sufferers of bleeding disorders who received contaminated blood are in receipt of ex gratia packages; and what estimate he has made of the number who are eligible for such a package.

Jane Ellison: As at 22 October 2014, there are 532 individuals with bleeding disorders in receipt of at least one regular non-discretionary ex-gratia payment from MFET Ltd or Skipton Fund Ltd, for their HIV or Hepatitis C infection respectively. The Department has not made an estimate of those eligible for regular non-discretionary ex-gratia payments who have not to date applied for such payments.   In addition, any individual with a bleeding disorder infected with HIV and in receipt of a regular payment from MFET Ltd is eligible to apply for discretionary support from the Macfarlane Trust. Any individual infected with only Hepatitis C who has received either a stage 1 or stage 2 payment from the Skipton Fund Ltd is eligible for discretionary support from the Caxton Foundation. There is also a range of other support for all such individuals, including counselling and cover for the cost of a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate.

Blood: Contamination

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people who contracted HIV and hepatitis C following treatment with NHS-supplied blood products signed waivers renouncing their rights to press charges against the Department for Health in the 1980s and 1990s; and how many such individuals are alive.

Jane Ellison: In 1988 a group of haemophilia patients infected with HIV brought litigation which was settled out of court for £42 million in 1991. A total of 1,437 people received payments from the settlement and a further 93 non-haemophilia patients infected with HIV later received equivalent payments to those made under the settlement. As a condition of receiving payments, these people were required to sign waivers stating that they would not bring any further proceedings against the Department of Health, the Welsh Office, the Licensing Authority, any District or Regional Health Authority, or any other Government body involving allegations concerning the spread of the HIV or hepatitis viruses through Factor VIII or IX (whether cryoprecipitate or concentrate), prior to 13 December 1990. It is not known how many of these people are still alive.

General Practitioners

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government's benchmark waiting time is to see a General Practitioner for a routine appointment; and how that benchmark was set.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Government does not set a benchmark for waiting times to see a general practitioner (GP) for a routine appointment.   The 48 hour waiting time target was removed because it as seen as too inflexible in meeting the needs of patients. The GP patient survey showed that the proportion of people who wanted to get an appointment within 2 days (and were able to) actually fell between 2008-09 and 2009-10 i.e. when the target was in place.

Health Services

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to simplify the provision and commissioning of secondary care; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: In considering the commissioning and provision of secondary care, it is for commissioners and clinicians locally to design and deliver the models of care that are going to provide the best outcomes for patients.   NHS England has published a Five Year Forward View which describes the vision for the future of the NHS, including increasing the involvement of General Practitioners in the provision of services traditionally placed in secondary care through ‘Multispecialty Community Providers’ and ‘Primary and Acute Care Systems’. A copy of the Five Year Forward View is attached. 



NHS England- Five Year Forward View
(PDF Document, 867.43 KB)

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the signature authorising Individual Funding Requests made to NHS England for Gamma Knife treatment by University College Hospital London, Queen Square, is that of a senior clinician employed by University College Hospital London.

Jane Ellison: We are advised by NHS England that the clinician who authorises Individual Funding Requests for Gamma Knife treatment to be undertaken at the Queens Square Radiology Centre Ltd (QSRC) is a surgeon at the National Hospital for Neurosurgery and Neurology (NHNN), part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).   Gamma Knife treatment is not undertaken by UCLH but by the private company QSRC, which is based at NHNN but has no formal relationship with UCLH.

Health Services

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the effectiveness of National Health Service purchasing and promote procurement on a regional or national scale.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Individual National Health Service trusts are responsible for their own procurement activity and are supported by collaborative procurement organisations working at regional and national level.   The Department launched a Procurement Efficiency Programme (Better Procurement Better Value Better Care) in August 2013, further details of which can be found at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-procurement-in-the-nhs   This programme focussed on the need to improve local capability, data and leadership in the longer term and the need to drive £1.5-£2 billion of efficiency savings in the immediate term. As part of this efficiency programme the Department is working with NHS trusts and collaborative procurement organisations to determine the most effective procurement approaches going forward.

Paralysis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to support University College London in its work to enable people who have been paralysed to regain the ability to walk.

George Freeman: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds 11 biomedical research centres that conduct translational research to transform scientific breakthroughs into benefits for patients. These centres are formed through partnerships between England’s leading National Health Service organisations and universities.   The NIHR is investing £110 million over five years (2012-17) in the NIHR biomedical research centre at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University College London. The centre is supporting research on the use of cells from the lining of the nose to repair damaged nerves in the spinal cord.

Perinatal Mortality

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the NHS takes to assist mothers of stillborn children to come to terms with their grief.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The National Health Service locally should ensure that appropriate facilities and services are in place to support bereaved parents following the death of a baby. In line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Standards of proficiency for pre-registration midwifery education, all midwives should be proficient in providing care for women who have suffered pregnancy loss, stillbirth or neonatal death. Health Education England has agreed to work with partners to ensure that pre and post registration training in perinatal mental health is available to enable specialist staff to be available to every birthing unit by 2017.To assist NHS commissioners and providers, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Standards for Gynaecology and Standards for Maternity sets out clear standards for the level of care provided to help women and their partners experiencing pregnancy loss, including the availability of skilled staff to support parents following a stillbirth or miscarriage. A number of trusts now employ specialist bereavement midwives to provide this support.To further assist NHS maternity services, NHS Improving Quality published ‘A review of support available for loss in early and late pregnancy’ in February 2014, which highlights areas of good practice and additional sources of support, such as the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, Sands.Local NHS maternity care providers are responsible for ensuring parents receive appropriate information on bereavement support and services following the death of a baby. To complement information provided locally, information on support for parents after a stillbirth is available on the NHS Choices website at:www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stillbirth/Pages/Getting-help.aspx

NHS: Vacancies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that as many staff vacancies in the NHS as possible are filled by citizens of the UK.

Dr Daniel Poulter: In filling their vacancies, employers across the National Health Service in England are required to comply with employment law and ensure all applicants including citizens of, and others who demonstrate they are eligible to work in, the United Kingdom, are treated fairly and consistently.   Health Education England[1] has been tasked with reducing the number of health roles on the Home Office Shortage Occupation List by March 2015. Where roles remain on the list an action plan should be produced to ensure that work is done to ensure that they can be removed. [1] ”Delivering high quality effective, compassionate care: Developing the right people with the right skills and right values”- A Mandate to Health Education England: April 2014 to March 2015

NHS: Temporary Employment

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the staff budgets of NHS trusts and foundation trusts consisted of expenditure on contract and agency staff in each of the last five financial years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Following the Francis report[1] many trusts increased their spend on temporary staffing to meet safe staffing levels.   The Department expects trusts to have a strong grip on their finances, and manage their contract and agency[2] staffing spend responsibly through effective and efficient workforce planning and management.   The proportion of National Health Service foundation trusts staff budgets that consisted of expenditure on contract and agency staff in each of the last five financial years is set out in the following table:   YearProportion2013-145.3%2012-134.5%2011-124.0%2010-114.4%2009-105.0% The proportion of NHS trusts staff budgets that consisted of expenditure on contract and agency staff in 2013-14 is 6.3%. Previous years are not available as agency and contract staff were not identified separately from other non permanent staff[3]. [1] http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/ [2]The definition of Contract / Agency staff is: “Agency” employee payments for the employment of staff where the staff remain employees of the agency and “Contract staff” where the NHS trust has control over numbers and qualifications of staff (in contrast to a service obtained under contract) . [3] non-permanent staff are defined as “others engaged on the objectives of the organisation including staff on inward secondment or loan from other organisations, bank/agency/temporary staff and contract staff.

Offences Against Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the recommendation in the World Health Organisation publication, Investing in children: the European child maltreatment prevention action plans 2015 to 2020, that a public health approach to child maltreatment should be adopted, if the Government will take steps to implement that recommendation in the UK.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Government welcomes the action plan including, in particular, its focus on maximising the gains from evidence-based programmes. The inter-agency statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children places a significant emphasis on preventative, early help. That approach includes the important part played by, among others, health visitors, family nurses, school nurses and the Healthy Child Programme. In this respect the Government has increased the number of health visitors by 2,206 since 2010 and the number of places on the Family Nurse Partnership programme will increase from 6,500 in 2010 to 16,000 in 2015.The Healthy Child Programme is the key universal service for improving the health and wellbeing of children, by bringing together the evidence-based actions of those who deliver care to babies and children. It provides health and development reviews, health promotion, parenting support, and screening and immunisation programmes.   Note: - health visitor numbers compare May 2010 with end-July 2014 - FNP places – original commitment was to double them, to 13,000 by 2014 (later increased to 16,000 by 2015) – which suggests a 2010 baseline (which we are unable to confirm in a hurry) of 6,500.

Cystic Fibrosis

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to support research into new treatments for people with cystic fibrosis.

George Freeman: The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre manages the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme. With funding from the Medical Research Council, this programme is currently supporting a £3.3 million trial of repeated application of gene therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis. The report of this trial is expected to be published in August 2015.   A range of commercial and researcher-led cystic fibrosis treatment trials and studies are hosted by NIHR research infrastructure including the NIHR Clinical Research Network, NIHR biomedical research centres and units, and NIHR clinical research facilities for experimental medicine.

Blood: Contamination

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases relating to contaminated blood were brought against the NHS Litigation Authority in each of the last three years; and how many such cases were successful.

Dr Daniel Poulter: No cases relating to contaminated blood have been brought against the National Health Service under any of the NHS Litigation Authority’s indemnity schemes in the last three years.

Hospital Wards: Gender

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the requirement to eliminate mixed sex accommodation in NHS trusts on perinatal mother and baby units.

Dr Daniel Poulter: We are not aware that the elimination of mixed sex accommodation has had any effect on perinatal mother and baby units.   This Government introduced the first ever publication of data on breaches of same sex accommodation guidance, and since then the number of reported breaches of that guidance has fallen by around 98% (from over 11,000 in December 2010 to 141 in September 2014).

Liver Diseases: Hepatitis

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether any Commissioning for Quality and Innovation payments are currently in operation relating to (a) liver disease and (b) hepatitis C.

Jane Ellison: There are no Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payments currently in operation relating to liver disease and hepatitis C. However, there are some local acute and community services CQUIN goals relating to specialist assessment or treatment for alcohol misuse, one of the major causes of liver disease.   More detail on CQUINs can be found on NHS England’s website at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/nhs-standard-contract/

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support NHS England is giving to the funding of robotic assisted surgical treatment for urology patients at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: We understand that NHS England has advised the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that it should not offer robotic assisted surgical treatment until there is clearer national evidence of the effectiveness of the technique. However as the Trust is the identified surgical centre for urological cancer, NHS England’s Local Area Team and the local clinical commissioning group are working with all of the acute providers covering Dorset to ensure that patients have choice for timely surgery from Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and other providers across Wessex and its environs.   We are advised that the potential service and financial implications of NHS England’s proposed national clinical commissioning policy for robotic assisted surgery and service specification will be considered in the prioritisation process later this year. Further information will be posted on NHS England Website under the Specialised Cancer Clinical Reference Group when available.

Female Genital Mutilation: Greater London

Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients treated at hospitals in South East London were known or suspected to have been subject to female genital mutilation in the last five years for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table: Active caseload2Newly identified3Hospital Trusts in South East London633752 Source: Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence Dataset (ISB 1610) Notes   1. The data is from the Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence Dataset (ISB 1610), a monthly return of data from acute hospital providers in England. It is an aggregated return of the incidence of FGM including women who have been previously identified and are currently being treated (for FGM related or non FGM related conditions as at the end of the month) and newly identified women within the reporting period. It has been a mandated collection from 1 September 2014. The first statistics from the Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence Dataset (ISB 1610) were published on 16 October 2014.2. Patients identified as having a history of any FGM type prior to the reporting period and still being actively seen/treated for FGM-related conditions or any other non-related condition at the end of the month. Note: does not include those patients within NUMBER OF PATIENTS WITH FGM NEWLY IDENTIFIED IN REPORTING PERIOD (i.e. identified within this reporting period).3. Patients first identified during the reporting period as having undergone FGM. This will include those diagnosed/identified within the provider within the month.4. Data was submitted by trusts between the first and the tenth of October inclusive.5. Only data that was submitted and signed off has been included.   6. 'Hospital Trusts in South East London' has been defined as: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Only three of these trusts submitted data: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

Hospitals: Mortuaries

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time was a deceased body spent in the mortuary of an English hospital in each year since 2004.

Jane Ellison: This information is not held centrally.

Young Offender Institutions

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to (a) treat and (b) prevent depression in young offenders institutions.

Norman Lamb: NHS England has responsibility for commissioning health services in young offenders’ institutions (YOIs). NHS England has worked closely with the Royal Colleges of Paediatrics and Child Health; General Practitioners; Nursing; Psychiatrists and Forensic Medicine and has used their standards for children and young people in secure settings as a basis for national service specifications for the health services commissioned in YOIs.   A key component of this is that the service should deliver child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) which meet the emotional and mental health needs of children and young people accommodated within the secure setting, based on clinical need. Children in secure settings are entitled to service provision that is equivalent to that available for children living in the wider community, within the constraints of the secure environment.   CAMHS cover early intervention, mental health promotion, prevention and treatment for the full range of mental health needs and care after discharge from a secure placement, including transfer to inpatient or adult services.   The CHAT (Comprehensive Health Assessment Tool) is used as a health screen for all children and young people entering the secure estate to assess individual health need and identify those needing a full mental health assessment.